CD review-Ian Siegal and the Youngest Sons-The Skinny
Like his forefathers in the British invasion of the sixties bluesman Ian Siegal came to America in search of the roots of the genre in hopes of finding enlightenment and authenticity ,what he found is so much more. The Skinny his new CD on Nugene records is the result of a house party at the Zebra ranch studios in North Mississippi with Siegal and the youngest sons of four of the blues famous fathers. Cody Dickinson (son of studio owner Jim Dickinson), Garry Burnside(son of R.L) Robert Kimbrough(son of Junior)and Rodd Bland(son of Bobby”Blue”).The eleven tracks are a collection of hill stomping ,two step, shout out, shuffling jams, played with fire and spontaneous joy. Siegal growls like a young Howlin’ Wolf on the sinister boogie “Master Plan,” and the seething “Hound Dog in the Manger.” He is joined on vocals by Garry and special guest Alvin Youngblood Hart on Diddley beat “Picnic Jam,” as they invite everyone to get out of your seat and join the party. Strong tracks “Natch’l Low,” and “Better Than Myself,” show us that Delta Blues is alive and well, while “Devil’s in the Details” revives the traditional Hill Country fife and drum tune with gusto. The swamp rock anthem “Moonshine Minnie,” is a hybrid of Cab Calloway and CCR.
The Skinny from Ian Siegal and the Youngest Sons is definitely the “real deal,”and one of the best albums of the year.
Rick J Bowen.
http://www.iansiegal.info/home.html
http://www.nugenerecords.com/catalogue.php?id=NUG1101