'The Crave'
Blue is a genre I have a lot of respect for. Before I put on this CD holding four songs from Stephen Dale Petit’s latest album ‘The Crave’, I did a bit of research. I was impressed with what I found, hearing Petit described as a ‘pioneer in New Blues’ and an ‘architect for the New Blues Revolution’. This was clearly an artist passionate about his music – he was serious business. I became excited for what I was about to hear, the sense of anticipation building up quickly.
I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The CD kicked off with a fast start with the song ‘3 Gunslingers’. This song introduced me to Petit’s skill as a fantastic musician. The 12 bar beat is catchy, and I can say I thoroughly enjoyed the track. It was just the right length, and I was tapping along the whole time. I imagine it would be great live, the sort of track that creates a really good crowd reaction.
‘Let There Be More Light (edit)’ is the second track on the CD. It starts off with a simple duet between Petit’s vocals and guitar strumming, before a piano is introduced and some backing vocals. Wow! A stark contrast with the first track, but it’s slow, beautiful and a great track to sing along to. I loved the guitar solo, which was short but sweet – a great addition to the song. The piano really added an extra layer for the track too, standing out to me as especially powerful. Can’t wait to hear the full length track on the album!
‘Soul Survivor’, the third track, takes the listener back to a similar style to ‘3 Gunslingers’. It’s stompy and uplifting, with that triumphant feeling of having made it out the other side, once more making me want to sing along with the chorus – “I’m a soul survivor!” I thought this track showcased both of Petit’s skills as a great vocalist and a guitar player. The solo near the middle was excellent, and following it quickly with his throaty vocals worked really well. The track also wound down especially nice, once more with the guitar sound dominating as the other instruments faded away leaving behind the feeling that a core had been exposed – a great and emotional conclusion to a great song.
When I saw ‘Cross Road Blues’ on the back of the CD case earlier, I was immediately looking forward to hearing what Petit would do with the track by the legendary Blues artist, Robert Johnson. This was a song inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 for its historical significance, so the pressure was high but, now having heard the other tracks by Petit; I knew he would do it justice.
So before I wrote anything, I listened to this track a number of times. Now, after several attempts at expressing my feelings about this track, I still don’t know what to say. While you can never beat the original, I’m sure Johnson would be proud if he heard this track today. It’s just amazing. It’s sombre and dark, with Petit’s vocals proving their excellence once more as the texture of the song builds up, leading into a guitar that is piercing and intense, and the supporting instruments are both melancholy and powerful. While obviously Petit didn’t write this track, it really made the CD for me. The sheer emotion of it is over powering, and it is this that truly establishes Petit in my mind as a remarkable musician, because he really does capture that feeling of ‘the blues’ first established all those years ago. The whole CD gives off the vibe that Petit is a musician who really puts his heart and soul into his music, and I can honestly say that I cannot wait to hear the full album! Petit is a definite must-hear for any Blues fan, and definitely for those wanting to expand their musical taste. 10/10.
Brought to you by our guest reviewer Amy