Alvin Youngblood Hart
Motivational Speaker
Tone-Cool TCL-51576
During summer
festivals, I come across artists that I wasn't entirely familiar with, who blow me away.
This year the artists were Duwayne Burnside, Detroit Women and Eugene 'Hideaway' Bridges.
Rarely does a CD stimulate as much as an energizing live performance. However,
Motivational Speaker has got me hooked on Alvin Youngblood Hart. With similarities with
Cream, The Cult and Thin Lizzy, the music is heavy. It contains psychedelic and north
Mississippi tones and rhythms. To no surprise, the core group is a power trio featuring
Hart (guitar, vocals and tambourine), Gary Rasmussen (bass) and Edward R. Michaels
(drums). Hart penned seven songs and selected six choice covers including a rare Free
B-side. Via an ultra modern mix of rock and blues, Hart pays homage to his personal
motivators on his 5th disc. They include Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone and
Leadbelly.
"Shoot Me
A Grin" is so cathartic; Hart would be wise to begin his concerts with it. "Big
Mama's Door (Might Return)" is reprised from Hart's first CD. It combines North
Mississippi Allstars noise with the immortal slide of Duane Allman. Here, it's Audley
Freed (Cry of Love, Black Crowes) who plays slide. Hart's echoing vocals hearken back to
the early days of ZZ Top. With heavy Led Zeppelin overtones, a screeching guitar solo
accentuates the garage rock of the title song. New life is given to the old spiritual,
"In My Time Of Dying". It hypnotizes to the extent of altering your state of
mind. The words aren't always distinguishable, yet Hart's voice is calming. While Hart
switches to slide guitar, Freed works wonders on electric guitar. Power guitars attack the
rhythm of "My World Is Round". It reveals Hart's "Reaction to everything
that didn't go right with the Start With The Soul record". Memphis soul, courtesy of
propelling horns and Otis Redding, meet CCR during "Nobody's Fault But Mine".
With field hollers, Howlin' Wolf-like vocals, and a rebel yell, "When Can I Change My
Clothes" combines the past with the future. The Allman Brothers Band will be envious
their name is not associated with the daring southern rock instrumental "Shootout On
I-55". Here, Luther Dickinson snipes yet produces both guitarists to soar with
masterful tone. In 2003, Hart was a member of JoB Cain, a hard rocking side project he put
together with Audley Freed. The grunge-textured "Stomp Dance" is the only studio
recording of the band. Two country and western songs seem out of place. Namely, they are
Doug Sahm's "Lawd I'm Just A Country Boy In This Great Big Freaky City", which
is similar to Hart's own life experiences and Johnny Paycheck's "The Meanest Jukebox
In Town". They prove that Hart, a devout maverick, can play any style of music
extremely well.
This certainly
isn't a blues record, but Hart considers it his "Baddest monkey zippa". If you
can't think outside of the blues box, then you won't enjoy the CD. Sure the heavy rhythms
become repetitive, yet kids and baby boomers will love this hard rocking Americana. Hart's
youthful rage, abundant energy, advanced musicianship, expert production and absence of
musical complacency will have you yearning for more. While others ponder how to cross
over, Hart continues to do so.
- Tim Holek -
Southwest Blues CD Review - November 2005
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2005 Reviews - available at
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