JIM VEGAS
SOUL SHATTERED SISTER
GOONZY MAGOO RECORDS GMR 04
SOUL SHATTERED SISTER–BAD FRUIT IN THE YARD-TILL THE WHOLE THING BLOWS–NOT THAT STRONG–LOVE IS COMING BACK AROUND–EVERYTHING YOU DON’T NEED–FAIRWEATHER FRIEND–FAR FROM YOU–LIGHTNING HIT THE BOX–LIFE IS HARD–SUN IS GONNA SMILE
Kansas guitar slinger Jim Vegas fell in love with the blues the first time he heard a B. B. King album. On his fourth album, “Soul Shattered Sister,” Jim combines those blues with touches of soul, jazz, and even reggae for eleven original looks at the human condition and how music helps us cope.
Along with Jim on vocals and guitars, Luke Young’s sax gives these cuts that extra special touch of soul. Check out how it all comes together on the tale of love on the rocks due to “bad fruit on the vine and Bad Fruit In The Yard.” A reassurance that “Love Is Coming Back Again” follows that reggae groove, while, at the other end of love’s wide spectrum, there’s always that “Fairweather Friend” who’ll hit you below the belt at the first opportunity.
We had several favorites. Another love affair that bites the dust is the theme of “Lightning Hit The Box, sparks flew, and the lights went down.” This one has that jazzy, hip feel of the heyday of Becker and Fagen. The title cut is another story of love in disrepair, “Soul Shattered Sister,” where “no one can save you if you don’t want them to.” That becomes Jim’s mantra and a metaphor for a politically-polarized nation. That feeling is carried over in another socially-charged cut, where “it’s just a matter of time Till The Whole Thing Blows.” On the set’s bluesiest cut, Jim pays a slide-driven tribute to John Lee Hooker with the endless boogie beat of “Not That Strong,” dealing with man’s ultimate temptation from the opposite sex.
Jim Vegas puts the emphasis on the stories within the songs on “Soul Shattered Sister.” Upon repeated listenings, we found the clever lyrics and unique characters akin to those of another of our favorite players, Webb Wilder. Do yourself a favor and give this one a listen! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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