Thursday, November 13, 2008


Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club – Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club (Provogue).

This is Former Black Crowes guitarist Ford’s second album for Provogue and he has continued his growth as a songwriter and solo artist. On his last album, Weary And Wired, he was compared to guitar greats such as Clapton, Hendrix and Beck so no pressure there then! This new offering opens with Main Drain, which is an excellent way to start as it grabs the listener from the first note. Locked Down Tight is blues based R&B and shows how good a band that Ford has pieced together. This is not the best vocally but it will get you going. Freedom Fighter is a tough, blues based, slow rocker and Ford’s guitar work is just classic rock – a big stage solo. It’s very atmospheric with harp from Bill Barett and organ from Mike Malone playing their parts and Ford back on form vocally. The classy Go Too Soon is old time rock n roll and Don’t Get Me Killed is slowed down with a fuzzed vocal added. The latter is an earthy blues with stinging guitar and haunting harp, this time from Malone. Last Time Around Again is good old Southern rock, played well and Ford is on familiar ground here.

Spaceman is grinding, airy and grungy. It verges on prog rock and over 8 minutes of it too! Pay For My Mistakes has bluesy slide guitar and a great vocal as he ups the standard. Good harmonica from Barett. Shame On Me has a laconic vocal over a running boogie – good stuff, and Mother’s Day stays with the blues theme. This is very, very good and allows Ford to show all of his skills. Smilin’ is funky but weak in parts and at over 8 minutes it is a bit of a struggle. They close with Keep Holdin’ On, a slow, world weary Southern rock and this is what Ford is best at.

http://www.provoguerecords.com/

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