The Windy City Strugglers - Shine On
Given that he still has one of the most soulful and bluesy -- if increasingly strained -- voices in the country, it seems a pity that Rick Bryant isn't recorded more often. He gets about half the frontline vocals on this outing, another installment in the sporadic "career" of Wellington's much loved and long-running outfit. The balance belong to Bill Lake.
It would be pleasing to report that this is as uniformly strong as some previous outings such as Snow on the Desert Road (2001) but a couple of very weak lyrics (Tintin's in Love and Taxi Driver which may be live favourites but seem make-weights here) pull it back.
Elsewhere this is unsurprising (mostly acoustic) soul-blues with a country twist from the Strugglers, and it is only when Bryant steps forward on a penetrating lyrics (Unlikely Friends, If I Was Thirsty) that it really digs in.
Review courtesy of Graham Reid from Elsewhere
