Review by Andy Hawes for MPM
Blues is a tricky genre. Because of its incredibly rich heritage and its influence on modern popular music, it is revered and held in a mythical glow by some of its diehard fans. Consequently, anyone who ventures into the genre had better be a true bluesman if they want to survive. And that’s tricky, because blues is such a classic style, with its structures and mood, that it’s all too easy to become a copycat and sound old-fashioned.
Luckily, there are many artists in this genre who don’t fall into the many traps associated with the genre, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of those artists who rarely makes a misstep in his illustrious catalog! His latest work, Dirt on my diamond, volume 2, published on 20.th September 2024 on Provogue Records is an absolute blast! It may only be eight tracks long, but my goodness, it’s bursting with energy and authentic blues vibes!
Kenny and his band skillfully mix blues with rock and soul and have created a very “live” sound with the recording. They have an absolutely great sound full of powerful guitar tones, soulful vocals and well-placed horn sections. There are also plenty of vocal hooks, making this an album you’ll want to listen to again and again.
Opener “I got A Woman” starts with a driving Stratocaster riff and piercing horns with absolutely beautiful vocals. Lyrically and musically there’s nothing new under the sun, but it just blares out of the speakers with an absolutely irresistible groove and the inevitable guitar solo (with “that” guitar sound – you know, the growling neck pickup sound that blues players the world over love so much) is full of classic licks that are played flawlessly.
“The Middle” has a delicious groove, with wonderful Hammond organ, brass interludes and choppy guitars that move effortlessly along. The arrangement of this wonderfully retro yet equally contemporary anthem makes excellent use of space and dynamics, and also features a stunning guitar solo that is absolutely drenched in wah-wah in the best funk-blues tradition.
The tempo drops on the absolutely gorgeous ballad “My Guitar Is Crying” which has a stunningly beautiful, clean Stratocaster guitar tone and wonderfully soulful vocals. This one is dripping with raw emotion and soulful feeling and you can feel the anguish of heartbreak as the guitar solo kicks in, all delicate melody, soulful bends and double stops. It has a very “alive” feel to it which only adds to its beauty. Truly wonderful stuff!
The energy level rises with the rocking “Long Way Down” where the horn section goes into overdrive to accentuate the massive chorus. There’s plenty of classic blues lyricism here with more of those spine-tingling vocals and the guitar sound is so powerful it’ll make your hair stand on end!
The rock vibe continues in “Never Made It To Memphis,” which rocks with driving, stomping guitars and rich female backing vocals. The backing vocals in particular add a new dimension to this track, lifting the chorus tremendously before an even more stunning lead guitar comes in. The groove is really wicked, and it’s all too easy to imagine the “backstreet kid who grew up on rock’n’roll” from the lyrics, shaking his hips and dancing to it in a street bar somewhere on the way to Memphis! Phew… I need to lie down…
Unfortunately, rest is not an option, as the band now launches into a classic, medium-paced twelve-bar grinder that should be pretty boring and generic, but is anything but, as its groove has soul and the arrangement has a flawless atmosphere. Absolutely classic blues of the highest order!
“Pressure” starts with another classic blues guitar line and some fantastic horn work. The drums and percussion are superb here, coupled with a bass line that’s just the right side of busy, creating a proper old school vibe with a ton of funk in the arrangement. If you’re not nodding your head and tapping your feet here, I’m afraid you’re clinically dead! And then there’s that guitar solo…just perfect! Kenny Wayne Shepherd doesn’t need all the sweep picking and neo-classical strumming that the 21 love so much.st Guitar audience of the century on YouTube. No, sir, he grabs his axe with a passion and ferocity that is to be admired: emotional, soulful and simply fantastic!
The album ends with the twelve-bar joy of ZZ Top’s “She Loves My Automobile,” which once again delves into the legacy of classic blues and smells like roses with even more cool grooves and classic blues guitar solos.
My goodness, this is a great piece of work. I’m not normally a big blues fan, but Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s albums always have a special place in my heart, and this one is one of the best in his catalog. The live band feel is perfect, and the combination of guitars, horns, and those wonderful vocals backed up by an outstanding rhythm section is absolutely perfect. When this comes out, buy it, stream it, and play it LOUD! Definitely a listen!
Dirt on my diamond, vol. 2.
- I have a wife
- The middle
- My guitar is crying
- Long way down
- Never made it to Memphis
- Watch yourself walking
- Pressure
- She loves my car
Pre-order “Dirt On My Diamonds, Volume 2” HERE
For more information and tickets, visit www.kennywayneshepherd.net.
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