The Proven Ones - You Ain't Done (Album Review)

What do the Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Rolling Stones and Wilson Pickett have in common? They more or less sound like the Proven Ones if you mix them altogether. Singer Brian Templeton brings a soulful swagger to the mic. A seasoned pro who has spent years honing his vocal chops. Their new record "You Ain't Done" is a gritty throwback to the bluesier elements of classic rock radio. This is not a bogged down blues album though. This is mostly good time rock and roll with a soulful groove. Guitarist Kid Ramos channels all of your favorite old time players. His grooves are both dirty and fun at the same time.

"Get Love" and it's instrumental intro feel like B.B. King or Eric Clapton with lots of horns. The bar has already been raised to a high place if this is your introduction to the band. "Gone To Stay" which was the first single released from the album, is a burning, stomping, ranting sing-a-long with a catchy chorus and and equally memorable horn section. Jimi Bott's drumming has a Charlie Watts feel as he sets the table for "You Ain't Done", the title track to the record. The song is a soulful shuffle augmented by more well placed horns and Anthony Geraci's fine array of keyboard sounds. Ramos and Geraci tag team amazingly well thorough this record. One can envision a live jam of any of these songs that could last long after last call.

"Already Gone" feels very Fab Thunderbirds but with more vocal harmonies. The arrangements and production values on this album will impress you from start to finish. The band duets with Ruthie Foster on "Whom My Soul Loves", a track that could be mistaken for something from the Stax era. "Milinda" keeps the string of close to perfect going with a more laid back approach between all the players. "Nothing Left To Give" feels very Santana, with a more Latin approach, and with plenty of opportunity for Ramos and bass player Willie Campbell to really stretch out and explore some new territory. And there's great percussion which really gives this track it's own vibe. "She'll Never Know" is another less is more soul track with an infectious groove. "I Ain't Good For Nothing" is a tongue and cheek blues number with a New Orleans feel to it. "Fallen" is more of a rocker with fiery guitar leads and Ramos growling his way through it. "Favorite Dress" is the most Stones-like tune with a riff that emulates "Jumpin' Jack Flash" to some extent. The tune expands further from there into a potent blues rocker.

This ends up being an amazing journey of rock, soul and blues. These are all well crafted songs. They are all instant classics. Well written, well produced and ready for consumption. This is the kind of music that used to be the norm rather than the exception. If you are looking to start a party, "You Ain't Done" is the perfect album for such an occasion.

Album rating 9.8

Saints Trade - Time To Be Heroes (Album Review)

Saints Trade is an Italian melodic rock band from Bologna, Italy. Their album is called Time To Be Heroes. The band is living just a few miles from the epicenter of a global pandemic. The title of the album may be mere coincidence or perhaps fate. There are three members of this band listed. They are Santi Libra on vocals, Andrea Sangermano on bass and Claus on guitars. Obviously there is a drummer not listed playing some solid fills on this record. On first listen there is a Quiet Riot meets Toto thing going on. I know those are two bands that typically don't go together. The rock and holler style meets melodic and precise excursions. Fans of heavier stuff and AOR oriented material can kinda hang in for the same song. "Livin' To Rock" opens with a catchy riff coupled with some sprawling keyboards and well placed call and answer vocals. At first listen this could be a number of different bands. Kiss, Van Halen, Journey, Firehouse...These Italians have gleaned from the best.

"Night Children" leans on another big riff and then some fine noodling. Libra's vocals are reliable and carry enough weight to keep the party going. The high harmonies have a Damn Yankees thing going on. "Destiny" is more Toto than Quiet Riot except for the big blasting chorus of vocals. Like a sophisticated metal party without the bleeding nostrils. "Higher" employs a bluesy riff that settles into a chord that feels very Twisted Sister or Survivor. It's a killer music bed to sing over and the band makes the most of it. "Two As One" is a slow building power ballad; something XYZ or Vandenberg could have written. The guitar tone is perfect for the emotion in the song. So far, so good. Oftentimes when I write about bands from Italy there is something lost in the translation. Not so with Saints Trade. They truly get how to do this. "Queen of Love" is a straight ahead rocker that finds a nice little power hook. The band glides over it, but surprisingly they change tempo hard and then revert back to the punkish melodic groove. "Born Hunter" is an instant radio classic, with a ginormous riff and some sweet chord changes along with huge choruses.

"Hills of Sarajevo" has a different feel to it. More progressive and serious in nature. There are still some epic chord combinations and a wonderful guitar solo. "Twist In The Tail"is an attempt at a dramatic story line. Not sure it works as intended, but it gets points for the attempt. "The Rose" returns to a more straight forward hard rock sound. Not quite as many hooks as the previous material. "Middle of Nowhere" is a hybrid rocker with ballad like tendencies. A bit repetitive. The band is still hitting on all cylinders musically speaking but might be running a bit thin on lyrical ideas. Still a strong record that will make any melodic rock collection better.

Album Rating 8.8

Albert Castiglia - Live At The Funky Biscuit (Album Review)

Albert Castiglia is slowly, but surely becoming a blues legend. In the state of Florida his name is getting fairly close to being a household word. His latest album, Wild and Free should expose Albert to a national audience. The recording is an inferno of blues guitar pyrotechnics. You can feel the sparks flying out. Castiglia is a gritty, soulful singer. His rough and tumble delivery is only matched by his guitar work, which is literally on par with any of the blues guitar greats you can think of. At one point Albert was the lead guitarist in Junior Wells' band. He's only sharpened his craft in recent years.

This live performance showcases a musician at the top of his game. Close to 70 minutes of off the hook blues-rock played to near perfection.  Tracks to crank up loud include "Big Dog", "Hoodoo On Me", "Get Your Ass In The Van" and " I Tried To Tell Ya". Truth is, the entire album rocks from start to finish. This is an artist in his element in a small venue, just tearing it up. This might be the best live album you will hear this year. Special guest Mike Zito duels on guitar with Albert making this an even more memorable event. Most albums start slow and build. This one starts at full throttle and never lets up.

Album rating 9.9

John Blues Boyd - In My Blood (Album Review)

John Blues Boyd has a backstory. And rather than going into detail about it in print, you can actually listen to it on his new album from Gulf Coast Records entitled "In My Blood". The album's title track lyrically sets the stage, "the blues is in my DNA". Born in the 1940's, Boyd has lived the blues in a way that is not a celebration of all that is right with American life. These are struggles that most of us gloss over. Boyd uses it as "inspiration" for these real life memories that are made into authentic, soulful and heartfelt music.

"What My Eyes Have Seen" is a swampy history lesson of struggle and injustice. Boyd preaches like an Old Testament prophet calling out from the wilderness. The arrangements are tastefully assembled. There are soulful horns and a bluesy tribal beat. The guitar work throughout is stellar and complimentary. Kid Andersen and Guy Hale help write, arrange and produce. Their attention to detail and reverence for Boyd himself makes for a contemporary blues album with a traditional feel to it. The keyboards on "I Hear The Blues Somewhere" add a 60's rock dimension to a pure blues composition. Mix in some fine lead guitar work and the appropriate amount of harmonica, and you've got a blues radio classic.

"On The Run" is a re-tell of actual events relating to the civil rights movement of the 1960's. The lyrics will jolt you into a reality that few of us have experienced. The story being juxtaposed by a perky blues arrangement peppered with horns and guitars. Boyd's simple storytelling swagger is a gift for both historians and lovers of old soul. "Her Name Was Dona Mae" is a delightful story about Boyd's wife. Throughout the record there are short interludes called "My Memory, Pt. 1,2,3 and 4". Boyd tells a brief story over some church organ sounds and what might be cricket sound effects. Much like snapshots at various times in John's life.

"Oh California!" is joyful tune about a refugee from Mississippi who escaped the insipid racism that drove him away. "The Singing Roofer" is a swinging autobiographical track that glorifies swinging the hammer in the hot sun. Kid Andersen's arrangements elevate these working class anthems to higher musical terrain. "Forty Nine Years" is a showcase for all the musicians involved, clocking in at over 6 minutes. It's a closing time jazz-infused torch burner. "I Got To Leave My Mark" is blues radio ready. A mid-tempo bouncer featuring some sweet guitar lines and the perfect amount of horns.

Boyd closes the album singing about the hard life that makes this recording a cathartic experience. These aren't just lyrics, they are things that are stuck in Boyd's head. And his willingness to share them with us all makes this more than just a blues album. This is a dark and sometimes joyful history lesson of America's ongoing evolution from injustice to awareness. It's a process that hasn't been fully realized yet.

Album rating 9.4

DeCarlo - Lightning Strikes Twice (Album Review Redux)

Tommy DeCarlo is the current lead singer of Boston. He was one of the greatest replacement singers in rock history. His vocal similarities with the late Brad Delp are remarkable. DeCarlo reinvigorated the Boston brand about 10 years ago and has toured with the band extensively and even recorded a new album with the group. Tommy ends up being more than just a a good sound-alike. He's studied the Boston way. He'd sung their songs backwards and sideways long before he got the gig. And his ability to let the music do the talking is something you'll hear from start to finish on DeCarlo's debut album Lightning Strikes Twice.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, Tommy and his son Tommy Jr, bring the wheel back! Tommy DeCarlo, Jr.'s guitar work is a masterful tribute to all of the fine players from the Boston tradition, including Tom Scholtz himself. And Tommy D has mastered the Boston keyboard sound and has composed some parts that replicate the past in a fresh way. Songwriting is not an easy task. There are only so many note combinations and unused phrases in the universe. Yet Tommy has managed to find 12 new and interesting combinations that will blow you away.

"A Better Day" opens the album with dueling crisp acoustic guitars as TD glides over a soundscape the builds with harmony vocals. The message in the song is simple and optimistic. The inspiration comes directly from the first two Boston albums. But even more so, there is a direct honesty in the lyrics. There aren't any political messages or difficult to grasp concepts. This is "Dancin' in the streets of Hyannis" on steroids. "You Are The Fire" showcases a potent mix of acoustic and electric guitars as Tommy's voice soars. In the old days, especially in the 1980's, you might refer to this as power pop. The guitar tone pays homage to Boston, and the guitar solo is sugary sweet. Not sure why radio here in the states would shun something that would light up their phone lines again, that is if they have a studio line.

"Give Love A Try" has a bass line that reminds me of Foreigner's Juke Box Hero, at least at the outset, but then moves toward more ethereal textures. Again Tommy Jr lays down a masterful solo that parodies David Gilmour a little bit. "Into The Storm" (instrumental) leads into the ginormous hook of "Lightning Strikes Twice". In the old format, you'd play these two tracks together for maximum FM radio joy. This is one of those hooks that is going to stay in your brain long after the song is over. "Still In Love" is a beautiful melodic power ballad that begins with just piano which then progresses into a band effort with electric and acoustic guitars and lush harmonies. "Rock N'Soul" takes a page out of the Foreigner handbook, but in a brand new way. Tommy Jr.'s crisp guitar work is juxtaposed with some terrific saxophone.

"There She Goes" is the should-be #1 rock radio single. A perfect melody, with all of the Boston essentials. If this was released in 1989 it would have done well on both rock and top 40 formats. And the guitar and keyboard solos are both phenomenal. "Stand Up (Play Ball)" sounds like a great Boston B-side, or something that was left off of "Don't Look Back". Tommy and crew have a formula and they stick to it with great discipline. "The One" is another exquisite power ballad that showcases Tommy DeCarlo's smooth vocals. Chicago the band called and said they want their 1984 melody back. "Gotta Go" sounds a bit like Hagar-era Van Halen mixed with Boston and Journey. More thoughtful and interesting keyboards and guitars from both Tommys. "I Think I Fell In Love With You" is another great hybrid song, with quiet and upbeat parts. And great voice blending toward the end of the song.

All of these songs possess radio potential. This would be a multi-platinum album if it were released in 1987. In 2020 it streams for free and radio is mostly silent because as I've said a thousand times on here, there is no support system for excellent music like this anymore. Tommy DeCarlo has harnessed the Boston legacy and moves it forward dramatically. And he did this without even a tiny acknowledgment from the music industry. It goes without saying that if you like Boston or Foreigner or even Journey, this album is for you. In fact, at this point it's the best melodic rock release of 2020.

Album Rating 10.0