Bear Claw's Blues CD Reviews   Featuring albums old and new that fall into Bear Claw Bob's hands and become part of the regular rotation on his home and car cd players - sorted according to the year in which he "discovered" each of them. We get a lot of CD's sent to us, and we listen to 'em all...and the ones that Bob likes best get their pictures and a little write-up here, including how-to-purchase contact info if the artist or music company provies it.  If you know about a record you think he should listen to, send Bob an e-mail by clicking HERE! To submit a CD for review, mail a copy to: Bear Claw Bob, P.O. Box 832, Callander, Ontario P0H 1H0 .

BOB'S PICKS FOR 2006

Watermelon Slim "Watermelon Slim & the Workers" (c) 2006 Northernblues Music, produced by Chris Wick. Run run as fast as you can and get your copy of this cd. Watermelon Slim is the real thing, and his band is a sharp as an axe and twice as deadly.  Slim's unabashed wizardry on harp, dobro and slide are downright perilous. His gritty howlin' vocal lurches in the dark spaces between despair and rage. There are some sure-to-be classics on this Canadian debut album by the Oklahoma-based ensemble. Check out "Dumpster Blues," a contemporary urban lament steeped in Delta mud, and don't forget "Devil's Cadillac" and "Mack Truck." This album proves that lowdown and dirty blues can make you feel good...real good. In a perfect kingdom, we'd hear Watermelon Slim on every radio throughout the land at least once a day.. Contact www.northernblues.com .
   

2005 Picks
Gary Kendall
"Dusty and Pearl"
Johnny Max Band
"Ride and Roll"
 Hubert Sumlin "About Them Shoes"
Wes Mackey
"Second Chance"
Ronnie Earl & Duke Robillard
"The Duke Meets the Earl"
     
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones
 "Hands Across the Table"
Steve Rowe
"Front Rowe Centre"
      

2004 Picks
Luther Allison
"Soul Fixin' Man"
Glamour Puss
"Wire and Wood"
 Fruteland Jackson "Blues 2.0"
Marshall Lawrence Band
"Where's the Party?"
Magic Slim & the Teardrops
"Black Tornado"
Big Dave McLean "Blues from the Middle"
Rockit 88 Band
"Too Much Fun"
Ray Bonneville
"Roll It Down"
Jerome Godboo
"Pain and the Glory"

 
Jimmy Bowskill Band
"Soap Bars and Dog Ears"

2003 Picks

 
Dylan Wickens Band
 "Fall Down Go Boom"
Enrico Crivellaro
"Key to My Kingdom"
Lester Quitzau
"Keep On Walkin'
Michael Picket
"Solo"
Morgan Davis
"Blues Medicine"
     
Snooky Pryor
"...and His Mississipi Wrecking Crew"
Yank Rachel
"Blues Mandolin"
      

2002 Picks
Charlie A'Court "Acoustically Yours" David Rotundo "Blowin' for Broke" Kim Wilson "Smokin' Joint" Big Jack Johnson "Memphis Barbecue Sessions" Sunny Fournier "My Kind of Blues"
 
Little Bobby & the Jumpstarts "Tickets in the Glovebox" Paul Reddick & the Sidemen "Rattlebag" Shirley Jackson & Her Good Rockin' Daddies "Careful What You Ask For" The Fundamentals "Twelve Bars from Now"  

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