CHRIS DUARTE GROUP

Too many pub-rock Hendrix wannabes. That's what's wrong with modern blues bands. That and Gary Moore. You see, 'The Blues' used to be sorrowful, passionate music made by poor people suffering incredible wrongs on home-made guitars. What people now call 'The Blues' is made by middle-class office workers on pristine white Stratocasters, playing music which makes me cringe. It's devoid of soul, generic and, worst of all, pointless. If you like this music, you're obviously going to disagree quite strongly with that and, while that's your right of course, you're wrong. There is no passion in this; except for the self-loving kind. All this album does is display how good the guys can play their instruments; quite well if you're wondering. The songs are the same formulaic blues scale rhythms with lashings of fret wankery, and that cracked soulful voice that burdens this genre. I hate it. Still, and to ensure this doesn't sound like I'm totally devoid of non-bias, 'Cross My Heart', 'Killing Time', and 'Hamra St.' at least venture away from standard blues shenanigans into unchartered waters and, for that, this album can have a point or two more than I would have given it. So, basically, if you have a deficit of blues-rock bands playing your local pub, and you like this sort of thing, you might want to check this out. But, I'll be giving it a miss if that's alright.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Provogue Records

Album

INFINITE ENERGY

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

64:33

RELEASE DATE:

25th Oct 2010

TRACK LISTING

1) Ridin'
2) City Life Blues
3) Cross My Heart
4) Waiting on You
5) Sundown Blues
6) Cold Cold Day
7) My Heart Don't Want to Let You Go
8) Killing Time
9) Purple Gloaming
10) Me All Me
11) Hamra St.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

USA

"There is no passion in this; except for the self-loving kind. All this album does is display how good the guys can play their instruments..."