Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials - Heads Up
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Free Music Notes for Heads Up
Free Music Review: Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials perform real deal blues
Hit: 5 Stars
Lil' Ed Williams & The Blues Imperials have been called "the world's #1 houserockin` band". Mentored by his blues legend uncle, J. B. Hutto, and continuing the tradition of Hound Dog Taylor, Lil' Ed formed The Blues Imperials in 1975. Ten years later they signed with Alligator Records. Their latest release Heads Up was recorded live in the studio and has been described as "containing the most ferocious and deepest music of the band's career". Five foot one Lil' Ed plays music that is full of animation and joy. He combines barking vocals with romping guitar. Drummer Kelly Littleton pushes the beat with masterful shuffles and playfully complements Ed's musical style. The remaining Blues Imperials include Mike Garrett (guitar) and Pookie Young (bass).
Ed has been gifted with shrewd stage antics, which can conceal his musical talent. Thus, Williams is one of the most under-rated guitarists on the blues scene. His vocals are entertaining enough, as are his light-hearted lyrics, but it is his thriving guitar that you'll remember the most. It rattles and fractures your bones for 55 brazen minutes. The road-racing My Mind Is Gone and the titillating Lil' Ed's Home Cookin' are wonderfully wild and crazy. Empty House Tour has the swing of the West Coast. Four Leaf Clover and I Love My Baby were influenced by Albert King and Freddie King respectively. The entire album is not completely comprised of snarling guitar. Ed is equally competent when he tones things down as on I Still Love. It and Black Night (the CD's sole cover song) are simply brilliant slow blues burners.
Ed and his majesties look like a bunch of 1950s rockabilly rock `n' rollers but they blaze a blues firestorm and create an instant party. This is not boring blues nor is it commercial/pop blues. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials perform real deal blues. It is raw, heavy, and raucous - featuring wicked slide guitar. Their energetic music rocks like a bed in a brothel while the slide guitar barrels over you like a mighty machine. Sure, there is a formulaic pattern to these songs, but there is nothing wrong with placing a sure bet. Some may find him unmanageable, but there is a genuine musician behind this book's cover. Perhaps more than any other artist on Alligator's active roster, Williams embodies the very reason Bruce Iglauer created his respected record label. Lil' Ed is all about having fun. On Heads Up! he is having a blast and it's a ball. Long live the Ed Heads.
Free Music Review: Good Helping of House Rockin' Blues
Hit: 4 Stars
Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials are a great house rocking band. Lil' Ed has a great soluful voice and plays an amazing slide guitar. Some great songs on here like 4 leaf clover and the hilarious Computer Girl. The band is tight and there is added richness to their sound with the three guitar format. If you are looking for some good modern blues check out this CD.Free Music Review: Great Modern Blues
Hit: 5 Stars
Call me old fashioned, opinionated, out of touch, whatever, but if you ask me, 95% of the blues worth listening was recorded before 1975. I am pleased to say this effort by Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials is firmly within the remaining 5%.
Lil' Ed simply has a great deep, soulfull voice for blues, and the band really cooks. The song writing is mostly tight and the lyrics are definitely the sort of every day slices of life that we've come to expect from the blues. It's modern blues, but none of the pretensions of modern blues artists that just don't move me (Robert Cray, Keb Mo), it's just great art.
Since they don't let me give it 4 1/2 stars, heck, I'll round it up to five.
And if you like this, check out "Chicken, Gravy and Biscuits" by these guys.
Free Music Review: WOW
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm a life long blues fan, and I've followed Lil Ed since What you see is what you get, but this is definitely his best disc. His vocals are so emotional you feel like you're right there in the studio when he laughs and he cries. The band has never been tighter, bringing in some of that fire from their live show. The third guitarist, what a concept, fits in perfectly, allowing the band to just feel BIG! I'm on my fourth copyFree Music Review: Heads Up! Is Jamming it Up!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Imagine walking into a seedy smokey blues club, paying your $15 cover charge and buying a $6 beer. You hope that the set you hear sounds as good as this album. This is a band that does it the right way, a huge sound, a rocking beat and powerful vocals with no studio tricks, like overdubs. ED's great toe dancing, knee bending, bar walking, gravity defying slide guitar playing and bug eyed silly smirks are all here. Buy at least Three copies: one for the office, one for the house and one just to have on hand because I guarantee you will wear at least one of them out!!!!!
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