Album Review: Gus McKay – “Saltflat Blues”
“Need my coffee, I’m gonna die,” sings Gus McKay on “Caffeine,” one of the toughest songs on his latest album, Saltflat Blues. The Australian singer/songwriter pours on the grit, brewing an intoxicating blend of raw blues, swamp rock, and funk. Ironic at how some of the best American music originates from overseas. Perhaps there is an advantage from being so far away from commercial influences that McKay is able to kick out the jams without worrying about mainstream acceptance.
The urgent, driving guitars in “Caffeine” are the highlight here; the track is bursting with enough energy to light up a Starbucks joint. However, McKay is fairly consistent in writing one memorable song after another. “Torch,” with its rumbling beat, is a fiery rave-up that explodes from the speakers; it will shave your beard with its sizzling riffs. The acoustic prettiness of “Branches” reveals McKay’s versatility. His talent is no one-trick pony even when it gallops with scorching intensity.
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