2009 finds soul/blues veteran Robert Cray at the start of what many are calling “a new era” in his long and respected career. Vanguard Records’ THIS TIME marks Cray’s first studio effort in 4 years and finds the middle aged guitar-slinger accompanied by an almost entirely new personnel of backing musicians; his biggest band overhaul in 16 years.
Despite the new band line-up, the 9 tracks found on THIS TIME do not find Cray breaking any new ground, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Familiar themes of emotional disconnect and “love on the rocks” run throughout this tastefully executed (and produced) collection of well-written soul-infused blues compositions and Cray’s distinctive vocal-style and patented Stratocaster tone are in place. His guitar playing shines on the album’s more upbeat and light-hearted material, like the quirky opening track, Chicken in the Kitchen and the Jimmy Smith-esque jazz number That’s What Keeps Me Rockin’, but it is on the slower/more serious material, like the title track and the album closer Truce, that fans will find the clean and passionate vocal that they’ve come to expect and cherish.
The singer/guitarist may not be exploring uncharted waters, but he is working with the same tried-and-true formula that has pleased his loyal and substantial fan-base for decades and gained him the respect of the music industry’s elite. There are no surprises, but THIS TIME is a well-constructed collection of soul/blues material that is sure to satisfy any Cray fan…or blues fan for that matter.
Despite the new band line-up, the 9 tracks found on THIS TIME do not find Cray breaking any new ground, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Familiar themes of emotional disconnect and “love on the rocks” run throughout this tastefully executed (and produced) collection of well-written soul-infused blues compositions and Cray’s distinctive vocal-style and patented Stratocaster tone are in place. His guitar playing shines on the album’s more upbeat and light-hearted material, like the quirky opening track, Chicken in the Kitchen and the Jimmy Smith-esque jazz number That’s What Keeps Me Rockin’, but it is on the slower/more serious material, like the title track and the album closer Truce, that fans will find the clean and passionate vocal that they’ve come to expect and cherish.
The singer/guitarist may not be exploring uncharted waters, but he is working with the same tried-and-true formula that has pleased his loyal and substantial fan-base for decades and gained him the respect of the music industry’s elite. There are no surprises, but THIS TIME is a well-constructed collection of soul/blues material that is sure to satisfy any Cray fan…or blues fan for that matter.
Listen to cuts from the album by CLICKING HERE.
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