Govt Mule – By A Thread (Provogue).
To say that Govt Mule is a success would be a bit of an understatement. 2 million paid song downloads from their website, 7 critically acclaimed albums and sold out coast-to-coast US and European tours are testament to that. They open their 8th album with a bit of a Texas stomp and that’s no surprise when you hear that ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons has added his not insignificant skills. Broke Down On The Brazos is bass heavy, thanks to new bassist Jorgen Carlsson, and this adds to the all round grungy feeling. Erstwhile Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead member Warren Haynes is a bit special (voted in Rolling Stone’s Top 25 guitarists) and his gritty voice is still as vibrant as ever. This is followed by Steppin’ Lightly, which is chunky, funky and very heavy. Good stuff! The blues influenced Railroad Boy also has cowboy flecks and maintains the high standard set by the opening two tracks. The cowboy influence may be from recording in Willie Nelson’s studio in Texas
Monday Mountain Meltdown is more of a prog rock style and after what has gone before, is a little disappointing but Gordon James is a classic acoustic rock that would hold its own in a large stadium or a small club. Any Open Window is another top class song and Lenny Kravitz comes to mind whereas Frozen Fear is a bit more run of the mill than the others and its alt country vibes are just not consistent enough. Forevermore is a return to the big ballsy acoustic ballads and it works well and Inside Outside Woman Blues #3 is a Jimi Hendrix/Joe Bonamassa style heavy blues with psychedelic undertones. The band is a class act and can grind it out – I could listen all night. Scenes From A Troubled Mind is another grinding blues with a big rock chorus and fills. World Wake Up is a lower key finish than I would have expected. However, this is an excellent ballad to end with and shows the softer tones in Haynes’ voice. They are only playing one gig in the UK on their upcoming European tour and that is a pity. Maybe next time they’ll let more of the country get the chance to see them.
http://www.provoguerecords.com/
David Blue.
To say that Govt Mule is a success would be a bit of an understatement. 2 million paid song downloads from their website, 7 critically acclaimed albums and sold out coast-to-coast US and European tours are testament to that. They open their 8th album with a bit of a Texas stomp and that’s no surprise when you hear that ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons has added his not insignificant skills. Broke Down On The Brazos is bass heavy, thanks to new bassist Jorgen Carlsson, and this adds to the all round grungy feeling. Erstwhile Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead member Warren Haynes is a bit special (voted in Rolling Stone’s Top 25 guitarists) and his gritty voice is still as vibrant as ever. This is followed by Steppin’ Lightly, which is chunky, funky and very heavy. Good stuff! The blues influenced Railroad Boy also has cowboy flecks and maintains the high standard set by the opening two tracks. The cowboy influence may be from recording in Willie Nelson’s studio in Texas
Monday Mountain Meltdown is more of a prog rock style and after what has gone before, is a little disappointing but Gordon James is a classic acoustic rock that would hold its own in a large stadium or a small club. Any Open Window is another top class song and Lenny Kravitz comes to mind whereas Frozen Fear is a bit more run of the mill than the others and its alt country vibes are just not consistent enough. Forevermore is a return to the big ballsy acoustic ballads and it works well and Inside Outside Woman Blues #3 is a Jimi Hendrix/Joe Bonamassa style heavy blues with psychedelic undertones. The band is a class act and can grind it out – I could listen all night. Scenes From A Troubled Mind is another grinding blues with a big rock chorus and fills. World Wake Up is a lower key finish than I would have expected. However, this is an excellent ballad to end with and shows the softer tones in Haynes’ voice. They are only playing one gig in the UK on their upcoming European tour and that is a pity. Maybe next time they’ll let more of the country get the chance to see them.
http://www.provoguerecords.com/
David Blue.
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