Heads Up!
Alligator ALCD4886
Woman In the Castle; Never Miss Your Water; Natural Man; The Creeper; My Mind Is Gone; Four Leaf Clover; Lil' Ed's Home Cookin'; Black Night; Empty House Tour; Computer Girl; Ed Heads' Boogie; I Still Love You; I Love My Baby
Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials put out more, awesome high-powered energy in their fifth Alligator release than they did back in 1986 with their first album. Again the studio recordings had only a bit of overdubbing, and were done in three days. Lil' Ed has indeed come a long way from working in a car wash place to touring around the world.
These seasoned musicians play tough Chicago blues and boogie like you have never heard before. Lil' Ed plays an amazing fiery, stinging slide guitar like noone else. His wild, fast energy is exciting and almost overwhelming. In the slower blues his guitar can be melodic, tender, and soulful. Ed sings all the vocals on the album, and conveys the messages effectively. He also wrote eleven of the thirteen songs in the CD. Ed is also very entertaining, if you should see him live, with his signature toe walking and back bends, and other antics. Pookie, Ed's half brother, has been making music with Ed since they were kids. So he adds a strong bass guitar and background vocals to the group. Mike Garrett plays rhythm guitar, including a few solos, and also helps with background vocals. Kelly Littleton plays drums. Both Garrett and Littleton have been with Ed in the band for fourteen years, and have the attitude of musicians who love to re-invent a song each time they play it. The newest Imperial-in training is Paul Buschbacher, who played rhythm guitar on a few tunes. Each band member adds solidarity and dimension to the album.
The songs vary from the deep depths of the blues to the intense, high- flying ones which seem to go over 100 miles per hour. Such songs as "The Creeper" intensify the slow, somber depth of the blues. Their bluesy cover version of "Black Night," is a very emotional, convincing song. One knows that he hates to be alone and is crying for his baby. "I Still Love You" is a tender, passionate song that expresses love for a woman from his heart. Somewhere in the middle is "Computer Girl," which is a clever, realistic song about his woman who talks "computereze" instead of paying attention to him.
At the other end of the spectrum, "Ed Heads' Boogie" is unlike any boogie you have heard. Ed is all over the place with his awesome energy. Many of the songs are like this, with wild, intense playing and singing. Both Ed and the band pull out all the throttles and move full speed ahead. "Woman In The Castle," and "Never Miss Your Water" are more examples of this reved up, thrilling, fast pace. Their cover version of "My Mind Is Gone," is packed with more mind-boggling energy. My mind would be gone too, if I played the way Ed and the band play. It is amazing where they continue to find all that fantastic talent.
Your head will be turning and spinning when you hear Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials on their latest CD. It is easy to become an "Ed Head," or a fan of theirs, after you hear their unique style and sound of this blues-based music. Heads and thumbs up for this innovative and exciting CD and Lil' Ed and The Blues Imperials!!!
by Maria Bainer, © July, 2002
