Buddy Guy: Skin Deep
After playing the blues for forty five years blues boss Buddy Guy shows no signs of slowing down. Now, he has released ‘Skin Deep’, an album of 12 original songs where he is in outstanding form.
Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s yet another album with guest artists. The big differences are that Guy wrote all the material, his guitar and vocals are in top form and the guests don’t crowd the album like so often happens with tribute appearance albums.
The material is remarkable, from the set opening ‘Best Damn Fool’, with its scorching guitar complimented by the Memphis Horns section right through to the closing track ‘I Found Happiness’ with its screaming guitar and funky backbeat.
In between, Guy jams with Clapton on “Every time I Sing the Blues” and duels with Randolph’s fine pedal steel on the red hot ‘That’s My Home’. Possibly the finest moments are when Guy turns introspective on ‘Who’s Gonna Fill Those Shoes’ where he clearly grieves over the passing of the blues greats and when challenges racism on the title track ‘Skin Deep’. They’re both great songs and Guy delivers them with his trademark enthusiasm and grit.
‘Lyin’ Like a Dog’ is pure Guy with plenty of sizzling guitar on one of the best numbers; ‘Show Me the Money’ and ‘Too Many Tears’ have fine guitar work from Trucks and strong soulful vocals from Tedechi.
It’s a great Buddy Guy album and it successfully displays the searing guitar, passion and showmanship that have made Guy a true boss of the blues. In my view this is his best overall studio set since “Sweet Tea” in 2001.
(Jive/Silvertone)July 2008
