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Provogue [Release date: 20.09.24]
Multi-Grammy-winning blues-rock star Kenny Wayne Sheppherd has been busy again. This time with older material. The two Dirt On My Diamonds volumes date back to recording/writing sessions at the famed Muscle Shoals studios in 2019.
The ensuing pandemic saw the band switch focus to the ‘Straight To You: live’ album, followed by 2022’s re-recorded ‘Trouble Is…25 and tour. So Vol 1 didn’t see the light of day until November 2023. KWS chose not to release all the material as a double album at that point, though thankfully, we haven’t had to wait another four years for Vol 2.
As with the first collection, we get eight tracks including one cover version. Eight tracks all hard-packed and layered up with high impact and low understatement. A run-time of only 30-odd minutes is the only skinny fact about this otherwise highly calorific album.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an entertainer. An enthusiastic one at that, and the bold productions and tight arrangements are what you would expect. Regular collaborator Marshall Altman is again at the helm and delivers arguably more swagger, perhaps more groove and definitely more brass than on Volume 1.
The album makes its intention clear from the opening salvoes of ‘I Got A Woman’. A thumping rocker with horns aplenty, clear crisp solos and a rich vocal from Noah Hunt. ‘The Middle’ follows, featuring another Hunt vocal lead with even more brass and soul. The highlight here is the flashy wah-wah infused lead guitar work.
For my money, the two best tracks on Volume 2 are ‘Long Way Down’ and ‘Never Made it to Memphis’. The former brings a dirty riff and the best lyric and best singing on the album, delivered with class once again by Hunt.
The guitar and horns combine really well. But there’s nothing wrong with Kenny’s vocal prowess either. Less baritone richness than Hunt maybe, but his style really suits ‘Never Made it To Memphis, particularly when alloyed to the bright female backing vocals on this absolute stomp of track. Loving the work of the rhythm section here.
Perhaps the other bona fide highlight is a reworking of ZZ Top’s ’She Loves my Automobile’ which cruises along on that solid rhythm again, with some snarling guitar and lovely keys/horns interplay.
The pace drops a little for the crawling blues-soul of ‘Watch You Go’ where the keyboards wrestle with the horns for some attention, but KWS inevitably steals the show with a couple of killer solos.
Elsewhere, the ballad ‘My Guitar is Crying’ doesn’t hit the heights of some of the bandleader’s other heartbreakers with a slightly worn lyric and simple structure, but it does bring a lovely jazz-bar feel trumpet into the spotlight. And ‘Pressure’ is just a bit too much naked funk and snappy rhythm for this old rocker, but the closiing, fuzzed up lead work is just about worth the entrance fee alone.
Kenny Wayne Sheppard hasn’t put a foot wrong in his storied career and this is another fine outing. Maybe it lacks a smidge of depth and sublety compared with his very best work, but there’s still room for this album’s smash and grab in his impressive cannon. ****
Review by Dave Atkinson
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