JW-JONES
BELMONT BOULEVARD
BLIND PIG RECORDS BPCD 5162
LOVE TIMES TEN–WATCH YOUR STEP–BLUE JEAN JACKET–COMING AFTER ME–DON’T BE ASHAMED–THANK YOU–MAGIC WEST SIDE BOOGIE–WHAT WOULD JIMMIE DO–IF IT FEELS THIS GOOD TOMORROW–WHAT’S INSIDE OF YOU–NEVER WORTH IT–COCAINE BOY
We’ve been fans of JW-Jones virtually since the start of his career, always being impressed by his ultra-smooth vocals and mastery of the guitar. He’s won plenty of awards in his native Ottawa, Canada, already, and is poised to break out stateside with his debut for Blind Pig. It was recorded right here in Nashville, and produced by Tom Hambridge. It is titled “Belmont Boulevard,” twelve cuts that feature choice covers mixed with JW’s originals. And, for this set, his originals are written from personal experiences that he hopes listeners can relate to.
The set starts with the barroom rocker that lets us all know that sometimes we need “Love Times Ten,” to get us thru. JW’s guitar work is augmented by the cool keyboard work of Reese Wynans. “Blue Jean Jacket” is a vintage-flavored tale of that one article of clothing that made you feel invincible. “Coming After Me” is a minor-key, slow blues that has JW feeling that, even tho he’s done nobody wrong, the blues hellhound is still on his trail. One of JW’s originals deals with a marriage that goes south because “she found another man.” But, JW is relieved, which is the classic soul theme of “Thank You, baby, for doing me wrong!”
JW’s guitar gets down-and-dirty on a burning take of Buddy Guy’s “What’s Inside Of You,” while we are warned that giving in to excesses is “Never Worth It in the morning!” Crunching guitars and echo-effect vocals close the set with “Cocaine Boy,” a gritty tale of “growing up hard in fisticuff fights.”
We had two favorites, too. “Magic West Side Boogie” is a blistering instrumental that owes as much to Sun Records as it does to Magic Sam Maghett. A humorous ode to one of JW’s guitar heroes, asks the musical question, “What Would Jimmie (Vaughn) Do?”
JW-Jones lays down an undeniable groove throughout this set, both vocally and on guitar. Here’s hoping “Belmont Boulevard” will introduce him to a world-wide legion of fans! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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