NICK MOSS & THE FLIPTOPS

PLAY IT 'TIL TOMORROW

2007-11-27

This two disc release is a cornicopia of delights for fans of Chicago blues. The first disc is a rocking, rollicking effort featuring the full band while the second is a stripped down, mostly acoustic, affair frequently featuring only Moss and mandolin/harmonica ace Gerry Hundt. While Moss is known as a Chicago bluesman, disc one strays furthest from the traditional Chicago blues sound by leaving the harmonica in the box and featuring a broader, less cluttered sound. Tracks like "Bad Avenue" leave Chicago completely in favor of raw-boned Texas blues. Shuffles are the fare of the day here and allow the band to showcase its considerable chops. With two discs there is plenty of room to stretch out. "Tend to your Business" and "Peculiar Feeling" are Hound Dog Taylor style scorchers while "Too Many Miles" is a stomping slab of straight forward blues. The "Rump Bump" is an instrumental number that likely gets the dance floor doing just that. Disc two puts the band back in Chicago with plenty of slide guitar, harmonica and piano propelling the 14 tracks. While skipping the amped up roar of disc one, there is no lack of energy here as the band tears into songs like "Wild Imagination" with gusto. Smitty