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"Kenny Wayne Shepherd is here at the height of his inspiration and approaches his music without bluster and with a consummate art of composition that hits the bull's eye."
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5/5
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Every artist reaches one day the peak of his inspiration. For Kenny Wayne Shepherd, signing with the Mascot label has definitively unleashed his potential as a songwriter. The American has of course always had a gift for blues rock and his name has been cited as a reference for almost twenty-five years in the restricted microcosm of the best guitarists of the genre. But there's clearly a before and after to his signing with Mascot. In 2017, we wrote that "Lay It On Down" was his best album to date. Well, this new opus surpasses it easily!
"The Traveler" is a much more spontaneous album than its predecessor. Its freshness and sincerity allow the guitarist to go one step further in his self-assured quest for a blues with pop rock elements, even if it means making purists grind their teeth. For if the album is about travel in the true sense of the word, it is also an exploration of the many musical styles that make up Kenny Wayne Shepherd's music.
"The Traveler" is an album of songs, each one more inspired than the last. And thanks to the perfect osmosis between the band's musicians, absolutely everything is at the service of these songs. Kenny Wayne and the faithful Noah Hunt share the vocals according to the musical colour of the songs, even singing the powerful blues rock 'We All Alright' as a duet. The rhythm section led by Chris Layton alternates delicacy (the very pop 'Gravity') and groove (the superb cover of Buffalo Springfield's 'Mr Soul'), multiplying breaks and rhythmic subtleties as in the good old days when he played for Stevie Ray Vaughan (the excellent soul blues 'Long Time Running').
From the energy of the catchiest rock ('Woman Like You') to the delicate emotion of a country ballad (the magnificent 'Tailwind'), Kenny Wayne Shepherd puts, as never before, his science of composition at the service of emotion and the pleasure of playing. His fluid and precise guitar playing is once again a lesson in feeling (the Claptonian solo of 'Better With Time') and blues energy ('I Want You') and reaches new heights on the cover of Joe Walsh's 'Turn To Stone', from which he dusted off every last measure. Recorded in one take, this track is a demonstration for any guitarist.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is here at the height of his inspiration and approaches his music without bluster and with a consummate art of composition that hits the bull's eye. "The Traveler" is a brilliant album with no downtime. So we can say once again that it is the best album of the American to date. Until the next one? - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Woman Like You
02. Long Time Running
03. I Want You
04. Tailwind
05. Gravity
06. We All Alright
07. Take It On Home
08. Mr. Soul
09. Better With Time
10. Turn To Stone
LINEUP:
Chris Layton: Batterie
Joe Krown: Claviers
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Chant / Guitares
Noah Hunt: Chant
Scott Nelson: Basse
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.5/5 (2 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
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