Magic Red & The Voodoo Tribe - Fire & Soul (2002) [FLAC]

Magic Red & The Voodoo Tribe - Fire & Soul
Label: Big Bug Records
Released: 2002
Genre: Blues Rock


Tracklist:

1. April Showers
2. It's Alright
3. Shades of Blues
4. Viagra
5. Bittersweet
6. I'm Drunk
7. The Sit Down Song
8. Hey Baby
9. The Bitch Done Sold Me Out
10. Bye Bye
11. Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Gumbo
12. Alone


Lineup:

Magic Red - guitars
Mark Griffith - drums, percussion
E.J. 'Moose' Boles - bass, vocals


There are so many great young blues/rock guitarists around these days, that I won't attempt to list them, for fear of leaving out several outstanding ones. While I never play the pointless "who's best" game, I do nonetheless have my own personal favorites of the new breed.

New York base monster guitarist Magic Red remains among my very favorites of the young guns. One of the hardest working artists in the genre, Red's explosive "in your face" style guitar will not endear him to the blues purists but will no doubt continue to add daily to his growing legions of ardent fans. If you enjoy aggressive blues based electric guitar, then Magic Red must surely be on your shopping list.

"Fire & Soul" is the follow-up to Red's critically acclaimed nuclear blues/rock debut "First Temptation" and certainly proves that Red and Company will not fall prey to any "sophomore jinx". Though the supporting players have changed since the first recording, Magic Red remains at the epicenter of this recording, just as he was on the first. The new band, which consists of E.J. "Moose" Béles on bass and vocals and Mark Griffith on drums, is every bit as capable as the earlier Voodoo Tribe and supports Red's guitar in fine style. While I mentioned in my review of "First Temptation:" that I did not hear a lot of the Stevie Ray influence in that recording, it is much more in evidence on this set.

Like the "First Temptation", this CD opens with a strong instrumental tune "April Showers" and is followed by a Grand Funk type blues/rocker "It's Alright". At this point, I am thinking "Well, another nice recording from Red". Just then, the opening notes from track 3, "Shades of Blue" jump from my speakers and slap me in the face like a healthy application of Aqua Velva after shaving. This is without question Red's best individual track to date, pure monster blues/rock at its finest. This song has to someday become his signature track as it is vintage Magic Red, loaded with Bolés' growling vocals, Griffith's pounding drums, and Red's ferocious electric guitar featuring tone that could cut through solid granite.

As is also true in the case of "First Temptation", "Fire & Soul" is a very competent recording from start to finish and all enjoyable to behold. Each of the 12 tracks are original compositions which vary in style but are consistent in quality. Look for many great things to come in the future from the fingers of this very talented young man.
review by www.bluesrockers.ws/