Album review: BLONDE BLUES – Envision Nu Blues

April 17th, 2013 by petefeenstra

Self-released

Blonde Blues hail from the blues heartland of North Carolina and ‘Envision Nu Blues’ finds the band having a decent stab at honing their own style. It’s an album that has its moments, but for the most part flickers rather than burns.

Blonde Blues take their name from their blonde vocalist and song writer Cindy Adams. She’s a good lyricist as evidenced by the heartfelt ‘Satisfied’ and the poignant ‘Gingerbread Man’. And yet in spite of the PR detailing her song writing ambitions, she only contributes two songs and a co-write. Guitarist Ross Osteen actually tops her with three and his mellifluous vocal is well suited to understated and slow burning songs such as the reflective ballad ‘If I Told You’.

Buddy Guy’s ‘Hammer & Nail’ and Al Kooper moving ballad ‘I Luv U More Than U’ll Ever Know’ are approached with a reverentially rather than confidently. But then Buddy’s ‘Best Damn Fool’ is given a touch more bluster, and Cindy duets impressively on the chorus of Doyle Bramhall11′s ‘Say One Thing’, which also features a great wah wah solo from Ross Osteen.

‘Envision Nu Blues’ sounds like the sum total of a decent bar band exploring their own style. They might ultimately fall just short of the mark, but their songs are works in progress with enough potential to keep you interested.

The best self penned moments come with the piano led, stop-time dynamics of Rick Siller’s ‘Shakin’ Off The Blues’ and Cindy’s emotive ‘Gingerbread Man’ with its funky electric piano line. The Siller/Adams penned ballad ‘Rain’ is the closest they get to their own signature style, as Cindy sparkles over an uplifting piano solo, a tic-toc rhythm and a much brighter production by Michael Martin.

Ironically, everything seems to work much better when they are less worried about blues and more focussed on the actual arrangement of a song. Ross’s slow shuffled ballad ‘If I Told You’ is a case in point, as he places the emotional impact of the lyrics at the centre of the song to great effect.

‘Envision Nu Blues’ is an ambition attempt by a band that has overcome several line-up changes, to record new music on its own terms. In Cindy Adams they have a vocalist capable of bringing real expression to even the most mundane of material, a considerable asset when you are still finding your collective way as on this record. *** (3/5)

Review by Pete Feenstra

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)