Blues Wax
August 12, 2010

Chicago With a Touch of Boston and New Orleans, (08/12/10)
When Rob Stone’s previous album, Just My Luck came out, it was my album of the year. No, it was probably not “the best” blues album that year, but it was so fresh, so unrecognized, and so accessible that I swooned. When I saw that the drought was to be broken, that Stone was releasing Back Around Here, my expectations soared.

Stone’s former bandmates Chris James (guitar) and Patrick Rynn (bass) aka The C Notes, join in the recording with appearances by some of Chicago’s finest, including Aaron Moore (piano), Sam Lay (drums), and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (drums). Boston native David Maxwell (piano) also plays on the record.

Stone’s sound is pure 1950′s Chicago with flicks of other blues city sounds such as the New Orleans beat on the focus track, “Chicago All Night.” It is on that song that the album begins to gel as Stone’s lyrics take the listener through a late-night-until-dawn tour of the Windy City’s noted blues venues, eateries, and sundry hangouts.

On the fifth track, “I Need a Money Tree,” Stone tiptoes around cliché themes without stepping off the balance beam. Perhaps this is the base draw to Stone’s recordings, that he harkens that lovely blues vibe that most associate with Chicago without being overly reliant on covers or rehashing tired clichés. Albeit an up-tempo album, Stone has a vague Harry Connick-like vocal quality that is boosted by his acceptance of what he can, and therefore cannot, sing. There is none of the faux-shouter blues growly mish-mash here – just a guy having a great time.

The album falls short, for me, because there are too many tracks. The album’s textures are consistent, and perhaps I just need a tad more variance in sound. Admittedly, Stone let’s us know he has no interest in taking the art form beyond the established 1950′s sound. Radio hosts might look at “Can’t Turn Back the Clock” for an entry way into the record: David Maxwell rollicks across the keyboards and the song’s form is a pure, easily recognized, but tasty blues treat. Not a “great” album, but fun and well above average.

Rick Galusha is a contributing editor to BluesWax.

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