|  By
Cornbread
 Omar
& The Howlers – Boogie Man
{2004 | Ruf Records}
Boogie
Man marks Kent “Omar” Dykes seventeenth
recording since 1980 and some twenty-something
years since moving from McComb, Mississippi
to Austin, Texas. All eleven tracks were written
by Omar (all but Mississippi Mud is a collaboration
of Omar and friends).
Boogie
Man is over 55 minutes and features:
Terry Bozzio – Drums (4, 7, 9 & 10)
Chris Duarte – Guitar (1, 6, 8 & 11)
Alejandro Escovedo – Vocals on track 7
Jon Dee Graham – Guitar (3 & 8)
Chris Layton – Drums (3, 5 & 8)
Tommy Shannon – Bass (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
& 10)
Malcom “Papa Mal” Wellbourne –
Guitar (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11)
1.
Boogie Man – you can’t
stop the boogie man. Omar has been converted
to full fledged Texas bluesman, this song kinda
reminds me of Billy Gibbons, a fine example
of Texas blues.
2. Bamboozled – cool
song, Omar has a great blues voice - deep and
raspy.
3. Stone Cold Blues – hey, hey,
hey can’t get high if it ain't low down.
Hear it once and you'll be singin' it all day.
The guitar screams on this track.
4. White Crosses – a
palate pleasing tune that’s a bit slower
and softer than the others.
5. Drowning In Love a bit country-esque
with a bluesy shuffle.
6. Shakin' a bit Cajun, it's
loud, hard and full o' spice.
7. Right There In The Rain –
great song, great vocals. Omar and Alejandro
sound really good together.
8. Bad In A Good Way –
a heavily distorted guitar boogie little ditty.
9. That’s Just My Life –
this song is fast, kinda country and I dare
ya' to try and keep from bobbin' your head or
stampin’ your foot.
10. Mississippi Mud –
The song references going back to Mississippi.
McComb, MI has produced two great blues guitar
men; Omar and Bo Diddley.
11. All The Love We Can Stand –
fantastic blues song; it has great guitar solo,
deep soulful vocals and a steady shuffle feel
to it.
Be
sure to see Omar & The Howlers when they
visit your town, also check him out on the web
at www.omarandthehowlers.com.
If
you like Dr. John or ZZ Top flavored with a
little Charlie Daniels you'll like this hardcore
southern/Texas blues CD. As for me, I loved
it! I'm sold, I'm now an Omar & The Howlers
fan. I’d rate this CD a walloping three
thumbs up, and 4.88 on the bluesometer. Buy
this CD!!!
Ciao'
for now, peace.
Peter 'Cornbread'
Cohen, CBP
~
Cornbread@STLBlues.net ~
|
