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Kirk Fletcher—Keep on Pushing—Vizztone Records ASIN
: B0FCLVXF6P

This is Kirk’s eighth studio album and he leaves California to
record at the Wow and Flutter Studio in Nashville with JD Simo
co-producing. We start with an authentic 50s-style cover of
Ruth Brown’s ‘It’s Love Baby’ and that’s followed by a lovely,
flowing version of Big Bill Broonzy’s ‘Just a Dream’. Arthur
Crudup’s ‘I’m Gonna Dig Myself a Hole’ gets a similar rocking
treatment with Kirk really swinging on guitar and Percy
Mayfield’s ‘Lost Love’ is a delicious slow blues with wonderful
BB King-style guitar and Kirk’s vocals being very heartfelt. The
album’s first single ‘Croke’ is a jazzy Freddie King-style instrumental that again really swings –
but seems an odd choice for a single.

The title track is a nice Fletcher original with another biting lead guitar solo and ‘Think Twice
Before You Speak’ is a restrained song by Al Smith that I hadn’t heard before, apparently it was
a minor hit in 1966. ‘Here in the Dark’, most associated with T-Bone Walker, is a lovely delicate
take with both subtle guitar and also thoughtful vocals and we finish with ‘Blues for Robert
Nighthawk’ a laid-back instrumental featuring JD Simo on slide guitar. I liked that Kirk has
taken some of his favourite tracks here to reinterpret – he isn’t afraid to take acoustic tracks
by Broonzy and Crudup and put his own electric spin on them BUT still keeping the spirit of the
originals. I loved the tone of his guitar throughout and the subtlety and swing that he brought
to all the songs and the band of Simo (guitar), Ron Eoff (bass) and Jason Smay (drums) are also
superb.
Graham Harrison

Connor Selby—The Truth Comes Out Eventually—Provo-
gue ASIN : B0FFL2QSW7

This is Connor Selby’s second album and the opening track and
first single ‘Someone’ sounds incredibly mature for a 26-year
old, it’s a relaxed, soulful song with brass, back-up vocals and a
nice biting lead guitar solo. ‘All Out of Luck’ is more of the same
built on Dave Limina’s keyboards and with more stabbing brass
and the title track is a delicious slow blues with subtle, tinkling
guitar that reminded me of John Mayer. There’s more straight-
up blues on ‘(I am) Who I Am’ with Connor’s tough vocals and
even tougher lead guitar, while ‘I Won’t Be Hard to Find’ is a
laid-back country-ish ballad with acoustic rhythm guitar and
pedal steel lead guitar and the delicate ‘Amelia’ also keeps the acoustic vibe.

The brass returns for ‘It Hurts to Be in Love’, it’s a soulful, slightly jazzy song with a Jimmy
Smith-style organ solo from Mr. Limina and Connor also adding a tasteful, considered guitar
solo. ‘What Else is There to Say’ is another very sophisticated, bluesy ballad and on the final
lovely melodic acoustic ‘Songbird’ (not the Fleetwood Mac song) Connor is joined on vocals
by Georgia Van Etten. As I’ve said I’m amazed that someone so young can produce work that
is so mature and sophisticated, there is also lots of variety here from full band tracks to more
acoustic ballads – all handled beautifully.
Graham Harrison