Among the blues highlights of 2022 was the top-to-bottom reinterpretation of the 1997 Kenny Wayne Shepherd classic “Trouble Is…” by the maestro himself. Now, barely a year has passed and this multi-platinum bandleader is offering us an all-new selection of urban blues bearing the title, “Dirt On My Diamonds Vol.1.” Judging by the title, there might be even more to come in the future, although the press release was rather tight-lipped about this matter; be as it may, this first installment is due out on November 17th, 2023, via Provogue Records. Birthed from the legendary FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, this outing chronicles Shepherd‘s ongoing journey of musical evolution, touching on stories of loss and redemption – the usual blues staples, that is. Life has imperfections as we all know but, when it comes to music, these flaws and blemishes are what make it interesting, sometimes rather profoundly so. With a refined talent such as Shepherd‘s, the songs are the authentic currency of emotion and this new offering sure does lift the listeners above their circumstances if life were being a real bitch – because, let’s face it, life sure has a habit of doing that.
The titular track is served right off the bat and it rolls out a laid-back groove that smells rather nicely of the Louisiana swamps. This opener would fit smoothly on the soundtrack of some dusty road movie set in the Deep South. The follow-up track, “Sweet & Low,” further pronounces this feel with brass section and all. Shepherd‘s wah-wah work on this track is something worth mentioning, in particular. Then, I could be wrong but, on occasion, it sounds almost as though a DJ were commenting on the guitar riff with brief, scratched remarks! I’m pretty sure that’s a DJ working his magic there and, I guess, it’s the first time I’ve heard such on a blues record! Served as the album’s lead single, this track encapsulates modern urban influences blended with rootsy undertones with flying colors. The funky call-and-response verses resonate with the vintage air of the classic, “I Just Wanna Make Love to You,” especially the Etta James version. The lyrics further reinforce this impression with the lines, “I thought I’d deck you out in Gucci, but glitter fades after a while, you’re my sweet and low mamma, and I’ll tell you the truth – ain’t nothing any sweeter than loving you.”
The laid-back, funky groove intensifies a notch in “Best of Times,” next. Perhaps it’s a deliberate move to place the funkiest songs as the opening trio. That’s one way to get the listeners hooked. Once again, Shepherd‘s wah-riffs bite hard Occasionally, I could swear I felt ephemeral, early-1990s-tinted Lenny Kravitz flashbacks. Oh, yes – while the album is pretty awesome overall, the first three songs are the absolute best bangers in this selection!
Speaking of the retro-vintage style of Mr. Kravitz, the somewhat ballad-like, “You Can’t Love Me,” leans even more toward that direction. This song resonates quite nicely with the air of Kravitz‘s blockbuster ballad “Again,” the only new song from his first “Greatest Hits” compilation released in 2000. Then, if I’m being sincere, “Man On A Mission,” in turn, nods a little towards Kravitz‘s funkier works. Maybe this feeling stems from the fact that Shepherd‘s vocal tone resonates with a somewhat similar, soulful air because, let’s face it, Lenny Kravitz does not exactly hold a monopoly over these sorts of retro-vintage, blues-tinted grooves. Whatever the case, you kind of forget that you’re actually listening to a blues album.
This vibe intensifies even more with the choice of cover coming up next; “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” was originally written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the epochal album classic “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1973). Here, Shepherd showcases his chops at good old rock’n’roll. This banger has been covered the world over but this version, along with the NICKELBACK rendition of all versions, really does stand above the rest.
Next up, “Bad Intentions” returns to the funky, laid-back mood. At this point, with only one song left, I couldn’t help but realize that Shepherd‘s new outing is diabolically funky in that New Orleans-tinted meaning of the word. This probably has something to do with the album’s overall feel-good vibe. One might have expected a tad more melancholy approach – this is a blues album, after all! – but, conversely, there aren’t really that many songs to deal with the dark and dreary undercurrents of our human condition. In fact, the slow-burning album closer, “Easy My Mind,” is the only song to have that bread-and-butter “Still Got the Blues” aura; it serves as the kind of definitive, quintessential statement that you have just been spending 36 minutes of your life listening to blues. Yeah, you read that right; the album length is just barely over 36 minutes! Once again, this goes to show that sometimes less is more – oh, so much more!
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Dirt On My Diamonds
- Sweet & Low
- Best of Times
- You Can’t Love Me
- Man On A Mission
- Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
- Bad Intentions
- Easy My Mind
Lineup
Kenny Wayne Shepherd – vocals, guitars
(further info not disclosed)
Label
Provogue Records
Links
https://www.kennywayneshepherd.net/
