Nick Moss
has produced excellent, true-to-form electric blues with his backup band
the Flip Tops
. Here he is the leader and frontman all the way, even though longtime bandmates like drummer
Bob Carter
, second guitarist
Gerry Hundt
, and keyboardist
John Kattke
are still supporting him. The focus for
Moss
on this, his eighth album, is different in ways that hearken back to late-'60s rock with current-day side bars. A more than adequate singer and guitarist,
is stretching his repertoire on this collection of old favorites and newer tunes with a funky beat, and in some instances, fusing both elements. Baby boomers will love hearing a riff-driven version of
Cream'
s
"Politician,"
with
Pete Brown's
poignant lyrics just as relevant today as when they were written. The
Stephen Stills
epic,
"For What It's Worth,"
is also still quite socially charged considering recent events, but
updates it with a funkier beat.
also covers classic tunes by
Howlin' Wolf
and
Sonny Boy Williamson
, but his songs, like the rocker
"Born Leader"
directed at Pres. Barack Obama, and
"Privileged at Birth"
are lighter but still strong in his message about those born with silver spoons in their mouth. A little reggae flavor or acoustic rural music creeps in, but
"Why Should I Care?"
is a definitive crossover song, as
Robert Johnson
meets
Z.Z. Top
. Many fans of
will notice a definite change in his music, and perhaps it's a progression, or a deepening of his commitment to the many musics he loves. Whatever the concept, it's easy to embrace the changes, with more likely to come. ~ Michael G. Nastos