Howard Glazer And The El 34s
Brown Paper Bag
Random RCD-23
Howard Glazer
is from Detroit, Michigan. Most will recall him as Harmonica Shah's guitarist. On his solo
debut, Glazer's average songs and street-wise guitar work are better than his substandard
vocals. The El 34s (named after an amplifier's vacuum tube) include Bob Goodwin (bass) and
Charles Stuart (drums). All three backed Shah on 2003's Tell It To Your Landlord. This
trio could benefit from the fills of a keyboard or rhythm guitarist, but in doing so may
distract from their aggressive, grunge-like urban blues.
13 original
songs feature industrial strength rhythms and blue collar blues guitar. Loud as thunder
drums and a gritty groove kick things off on the title track. This rockin' boogie features
attacking guitar in the vein of Johnny Winter and George Thorogood. "Cold, Sad and
Lonely" is deep-in-the-basement, while the slow blues of "Sad Situation"
and "The Dogs They Bark At Midnight" drag on too long. "Going To
Chicago" is a wah wah filled journey to the Windy City and back to Motown where
Glazer's muscular guitar solo sounds like he is performing a rock concert. The song
details Glazer's brief relocation to Chicago where he sharpened his blues skills.
"Radioactive Woman" displays a black sense of humor ("She has 14 fingers /
equally as many toes / man you ought to see her glow"). Overdubbed rhythm guitar
rounds out "Don't Love You No More", which sounds like 1970s Rolling Stones. A
couple acoustic songs feature Glazer on guitar and vocals only with nothing to distract
from the blunt singing. By comparison, the backing vocals of Maggie McCabe and Stephanie
Johnson are a delight. The ladies should have been given additional duties. Glazer's forte
are boogie woogie rock 'n' roll songs like "Mean Hearted Woman" and
"Smokin' and Drinkin'." Both come laced in shop floor grease.
Glazer has created a coarse sound by omitting polish and wax from his production. Like
fine scotch, you may not acquire a taste for Glazer's vocals, but his back alley blues are
worth discovering. Overall, the music lacks a consistent punch and uniqueness, but the
guitar work is reliably cutting and grimy.
- Tim Holek -
Southwest Blues CD Review - October 2005
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