This is Early James third album and is produced by Dan Auerbach again, this time around at Buddy's Honky Chateau in Nashville, on an 50's Universal Tube Console, with the band members Adrian Marmolejo, Jeff Clemens and Sam Baccoall set up in separate rooms, this is all one take recordings with almost no overdubs, giving it an authentic blues recording feel, where you can here the rooms and reverb of the setting. They didn't use in ear monitors or other modern aids, this isn't quantized or compressed but fully alive, best listened to on a Gramophone.
The album opens with the single Steely Knives that sounds like they have been on the rock island Line warming up that freight train boogie sound, hard scrabble blues for those struggling to stay afloat.
Nothing Surprises Me Anymore a true song for our times, that sounds like it could be from the dustbowl, deep blues howling, for days lacking in anything that used to surprise you from seeming normal.
Tinfoil Hat slow shuffling blues pain, for your local Tinfoil Hat warriors who seem to want to be in command, picking out notes full of pain and worry, bass drum almost through the floor at times.
Go Down Swinging is somewhere between a samba and rumba rhythm, slow thoughtful, for this tale of love death and the dark games we play.
Rag Doll is early rock and roll blues, rumbling shuffling, in love with the Arkansas stomp Tav Falco was chasing, with a light louche lounge middle eight this just keeps rolling along.
Gravy Train takes a classic train beat for another down at heel traveller, trying to chase The Knitters dream, of being the new Weavers, hopping freight trains across the south. trying to make sure everything is alright, we can only hope.
I Could Just Die Right Now is in the veins of Hank Williams and George Jones maudlin late night country blues.
Unspeakable Thing hat could it be in the times we are in, that are still Unspeakable, dark brooding, sparse softly beaten drums, leading into the darkness, guitar attuned to all sorts of Unspeakable Things.
Beauty Queen blows hot and cold, does what's asked of her in hushed whispered vocal tones, slow picked guitar investigates, what that mirror reflects back at her, hinting at the despair she may feel, at her place within this scheme, how will she escape.
Dig To China it may be the only way you get your cheap goods out of there these days, this was written long before trade wars, a good old country blues for the love of that China, blues and jazz men have always sung about, down by the gates once more.
Upside Down Umbrella chugs along like it's just escaped from Parchman Farm, trying to beat the mean monsoon that will at least cover your tracks, they try to summon John Henry's ghost to give him one more squeeze.
The album closes with I Got This Problem everyone is dancing so slowly, trying to get away from all the troubles and sorrows of this modern world, retreating to the golden days of the 30's and 40's rural America, oh no that might also be a problem, what to do, well keep making hot blues albums like this one please.
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