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Review: 'GALES, ERIC'
'The Bookends'   

-  Label: 'Provogue/ Mascot'
-  Genre: 'Blues' -  Release Date: '8th February 2019'

Our Rating:
Some say Eric Gales is the best blues guitarist alive today which is all down to personal taste but one thing is for sure, the boy can play.

With producer Matt Wallace in tow for this album the thinking was to push himself as a vocalist. He can clearly sing as well although he will probably never match someone like say BB King for sheer individuality. It seems more likely that he has fashioned these songs to fit with the vocal comfort zone he is currently in.

That being said, on the first vocal track "Something's Gotta Give" duties are shared with B. Slade who also features on bonus track "Pedal To The Metal". "Watcha Gon' Do" is testifying a la Johnnie Taylor, in a blues vein. "It Just Beez That Way" even features Gales beatboxing and playing slide on record for the first time.

Not for the only time on this album "How Do I Get You" sounds like a song Prince might write. Or a song Prince might have written for someone else, perhaps? No bad thing. "Southpaw Serenade" is pretty epic and features Doyle Bramhall II and talks about Gales' time in prison.

"Reaching For A Change" is a Texan rocker and "Somebody Lied" reminds me of "Raspberry Beret" by his Purpleness. The cover of "With A Little Help From My Friend" is a little unnecessary and sees Beth Hart doing her best Joe Cocker. "Resolution is an instrumental and sees Gales doing what he does best. The bonus track sounds a lot like "Somebody Lied".
  author: Leo Newbiggin

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GALES, ERIC - The Bookends