Closer to the Bone is
Tommy Castro's first album in four years. His last LP, the stellar
A Bluesman Came to Town, is a concept set tracing the life of an itinerant bluesman. It includes some of the finest originals in
Castro's long career, including the gospel-blues "Child Don't Go," the title track, and "I Want to Go Back Home." It may initially seem odd that after four years, the guitar slinger and band return with a set that includes only three originals; the remainder are covers written by
Castro's friends and heroes. It contains the raw, unpolished blues (not blues rock) songs his last album's protagonist would play in roadhouses.
The Painkillers remain keyboardist
Mike Emerson, bassist/backing vocalist
Randy McDonald, and drummer
Bowen Brown. The album was produced by
Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, who plays numerous instruments. Further,
Castro invited a large cast of guests including saxophonist
Deanna Bogart,
Chris Cain,
Rick Estrin, a full horn section, and more.
The set opens with "Can't Catch a Break," a choogler that swings as the horns, led by baritone sax and a bumping bassline, frame
Castro's rough, whiskey-soaked vocals and stinging guitar fills. He follows with a fantastic, steamy read of
Jimmy Nolen's "The Way You Do." The interplay between the piano, a syncopated, shuffling drum kit, and a walking bassline opens the gate for the guitarist, who offers an economical solo that fits his soulful vocal.
Johnny Nitro's "One More Night" is an homage to the legendary San Francisco bluesman --
Castro even plays the composer's 1966 Fender Stratocaster to underscore out his tribute. Original "Crazy Woman Blues" is a slow, gritty, late-night Chicago blues reminiscent of
Luther Allison.
Cain's "Woke Up and Smelled the Coffee" is another Chicago-styled groover, this time uptempo and rattling with boogie woogie piano, B-3, and a punched-up, dirty guitar sound.
Johnny Guitar Watson's "She Moved Me" is an excellent meld of R&B-styled horns, boogie guitar, and a swinging rhythm section behind
Bogart's killer sax solo.
Castro's Ain't Worth the Heartache" is a classic, using the
Bo Diddley beat on guitar, framed by roiling tom-toms and kick drum as
Billy Branch's harmonica delivers a wailing solo before
Castro's. It's followed by an excellent version of
Ray Charles' soul-blues ballad "A Fool for You." The set closes with three astonishing covers.
Hank Penny's jump classic "Bloodshot Eyes" led by roadhouse horns and upright piano, also contains a fine tenor solo from
Bogart.
Eddie Taylor's "Stroll Out West" straddles the Delta-Texas blues divide.
Castro's singing here is some of the most expressive of his career -- his moaning falsetto is a killer. The final cut is a resonant read of
Brownie McGee's "Hole in the Wall." With a backing vocal chorus, squalling B-3, cut-time snare shuffle, and a pulsing, single-note bassline,
Castro's guitar playing goes at the entire maelstrom as his singing claims authority over it all. On
Closer to the Bone, the artist is personally influenced by and committed to these covers, and supplements them with originals that carry the same weight. All killer, no filler. ~ Thom Jurek
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