As 2020 continues to pelt us with horrors and disasters, almost everyone has a heavy case of the blues. Kurt Allen is here to beat those blues back, to combat them with his own blues, mixing in elements of rock, soul and even funk. His new album, Whiskey, Women & Trouble, features all original material, composed by Kurt Allen. Joining the guitarist and vocalist on this release are Lester Estelle Jr. on drums, Craig Kew on bass, Beaux Lux on keyboards and saxophone, Pete Carroll on trumpet, and Trevor Turla on trombone.
The disc opens with a good thumping blues rock number, “Graveyard Blues,” which features a steady rhythm and some great work on electric guitar. This song has a familiar style, a sound to help us get through this nasty year, to push our way through it, those rough vocals telling us “Time is running out.” Oh yes, that sense of time passing is clear every day. We are all eager for this year to end, yet also want to hold onto moments, to not wish our lives away, for it’s all going so quickly anyway. “Graveyard Blues” is followed by “Watch Yo Step,” which has a smooth, delicious feel. This is one of my personal favorites, in part because of the way it kind of swings at times, and because of that work on drums. I suppose we’d all better watch our step these days. You never know when the next step will take us over a cliff or into a fire or storm. But this music will make you feel good, wherever your steps may lead you.
A classic blues rhythm with some glorious guitar sounding over it starts “How Long,” getting us all in the proper mood. And when Kurt Allen’s vocals come in, the way he hangs onto the word “long” grabs our attention. This is a seriously good vocal performance. And, hey, “How long?” is a question most of us have been asking these days, isn’t it? The last four years have gone on for like forty, and we’re hoping the end is just around the corner. “How long must you treat me this way?” This track becomes a glorious blues jam with more great and expressive work on guitar, something you can sink your teeth into. The album’s title track, “Whiskey, Women & Trouble,” is a fun number with a good beat and some wonderful touches from the horn section. This one swings as well, and has some bright energy to help lift us up. I dig that bass line. “She leans over, whispers something soft and sweet/There’s trouble up ahead that I see.” Then a funky bass line gets “Funkalicious” off to a great start. And yeah, this track totally lives up to its title, with its delicious beat and some great stuff on horns. The lyrics are nothing serious, Kurt Allen singing about his love for certain foods. There is a playful sense to his vocal delivery, but this one is all about the groove, and is pure fun.
“Count On Me” is a slower, soulful number, a song that reaches out to us to help ease our worried and troubled minds. And it works. “If you get lonely/If times get rough/You need someone to talk to/Call me up.” I hope we each have someone who can sing to us, “Count on me, count on me, count on me, count on me.” This sweet song provides a welcome break from the craziness of the world, and features some gentle and pretty work on keys. “Just call my name, and I’ll be right there.” That’s followed by “Roadrunner,” and right away that saxophone works its magic, taking us to a good place. This is an original tune, by the way, not a cover of the Modern Lovers’ song. At one point Kurt Allen playfully sings, “Beep beep,” a reference to the Road Runner cartoon, following that with the line “A cloud of dust is all you’ll see.” This song also includes a bit of bragging: “I’ve been raising hell/Don’t you mess with me.” This is another of my favorite tracks. Then “Cry Mercy” has a bit of a New Orleans flavor, something that is always appreciated. This track has a good feel about it, particularly that instrumental section in the middle.
The bass gets “Voodoo Queen” going, and when the song kicks in, it takes us into a dark, beautiful, strange land. “Voodoo queen put a spell on me.” This song might work its own spell on you, especially the saxophone. There is a bit of funk, and a lot of power, and this track includes a short drum solo at the end. The album then concludes with “Sweet T,” a rock and roll number to get folks on their feet and feeling good. Just listen to those rocking keys, and that lively, fiery guitar work. Leave ‘em dancing, leave ‘em grooving, right? Works for me, no question.
CD Track List
- Graveyard Blues
- Watch Yo Step
- How Long
- Whiskey, Women & Trouble
- Funkalicious
- Count On Me
- Roadrunner
- Cry Mercy
- Voodoo Queen
- Sweet T
Whiskey, Women & Trouble was released on September 25, 2020.
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