I find great blues absolutely mesmerizing.
Blues is a paradox on many levels. It is an art form of emotional expression, but playing it well requires discipline and clear intentionality. It’s structure is simple and predictable, but great blues artists plumb the depths of the human spirit, weaving tales of astonishing psychological complexity. They also use the basic structure to express complex musical ideas over a solid foundation.
Up to this point, I haven’t written nearly as many blues reviews as I would have liked, in part because my reading audience hasn’t seem interested. Of all the genres I cover, my blues reviews are the least read. Well, as much as it pains me to bore my readers, I’ve decided to say “screw that.”
Here are the blues reviews I’ve done so far—expect a lot more in the future:
Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings
Essential Recordings by Memphis Minnie
His Best, The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection by Little Walter
Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton by John Mayall
A Long Time Comin’ by The Electric Flag
At Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
Grant Street by Sonny Landreth
Get Up! by Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite
