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R E V I E W S

Eddie Martin – Thirst – Blueblood Records

My first reaction to this album was to want to see Eddie Martin and his
band live and wondering how I had so far missed that experience. It has
a lot of what I like best and the varying styles are right up my alley.

Riffy songs (without being too “muso groove”), decent lyrics, variety
and excellent recording standards make for a splendid listen and left me
wanting more. The band present the songs in a sympathetic but exciting
way, never tripping over each other and leaving space for each
individual to express themselves within the band situation. If one was to
be picky, the vocal recording is a little polite in most cases – a little
more live push would up the excitement level, but that's just me being fussy.

Stand out songs, for me, include the slow track Like Water, Louisiana Woman and the rootsy Sewn Up.
Musicians such as Jonny Henderson and Yuki Yoshizu bring additional layers of polish.

Thirst is an album that will keep you engaged, mixing various influences with a good level of originality –
time to see Eddie Martin live I think!

Stan Cockeram

Joe Bonamassa – Live at the Sydney Opera House – J&R Adventures

Well, Joe Bonamassa can certainly pick an iconic venue to record a live
album.

So what can we say about Joe Bonamassa? He's probably the highest
profile blues performer globally and certainly one of the highest profile
guitarists in any style.

This album displays his undeniable skill – it's a polished and
professional show from start to finish, presented by a slick band
including Reese Wynans and a horn section, there is a vast scope for
instrumental expression within each number.

The live album format can have its pitfalls and I think some are displayed here – what works for the live
audience isn't always right for the record buyer. There is an awful lot of soloing on this album which is
exciting and captivating in the live environment but in the tighter confines of a single album can become a
bit oppressive. The same applies to the prologues which many songs are endowed with – they don't really
bear any relation to the song and it's questionable whether they really add to them.

Having said that, the guitar playing is stellar, vocals well presented and everything is tight with just a little
edge of live performance which is nice to hear. If you know the Blues of Desperation album then you will
know most of the tracks here – presented pretty much in the original album's sequence. Powerful songs,
powerfully played. I bet it was a great show to attend – and maybe that's the problem for me – I should be
watching the DVD rather than listening to the album!

Stan Cockeram