DOYLE BRAMHALL II
SHADES
PROVOGUE 75722
LOVE AND PAIN–HAMMER RING–EVERYTHING YOU NEED (FEAT. ERIC CLAPTON)–LONDON TO TOKYO–SEARCHING FOR LOVE (FEAT. NORAH JONES)–LIVE FOREVER (FEAT. GREYHOUNDS)–BREAK APART TO MEND–SHE’LL COME AROUND–THE NIGHT–PARVANNAH–CONSCIOUSNESS–GOING GOING GONE (FEAT. TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND)
Fortunately for us fans, we only had a two-year wait between albums from Doyle Bramhall II this time around. His latest set, “Shades,” is just that–Doyle shows us his varied shades of soul and blues and how they relate to our lives throughout these cuts. Plus, he has some dynamite special guests, including the Greyhounds, Norah Jones, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Eric Clapton. Overall, this set is a bit looser and heavier on the soul-blues material than some of his earlier works, but it’s a sho’ nuff guaranteed sweet ride, indeed!
The set begins with the stark “Love And Pain,” where “that ol’ Reaper’s coming, and he won’t be denied!” “Hammer Ring” recounts a tale of a young man for whom the hammer of justice hits hard, “leaving his mother crying in the courthouse,” set over a brooding arrangement. Clapton’s guitar adds embellishment to the soulful groove of “Everything I Need,” while Doyle is joined by Norah Jones on vocal and piano on “Searching For Love,” as our paramours grapple with the fact that “nobody said it would be easy, nobody said it would be so hard” to forge a relationship. The Greyhounds feed off the Sixties-ish, psychedelic groove of “Love Forever,” while the set closes with our favorite. The Tedeschi Trucks Band join the party “down where the willow don’t bend,” for a soul-grabbing, gospel-infused read of Dylan’s classic, “Going Going Gone.”
It takes a lot of “Shades” of blues to get where you are on life’s journey. Doyle Bramhall II recognizes this up front, and utilizes the music on this set to convey a message easily understood by all his fans! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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