Jimmy Carpenter

Toiling in Obscurity

2009-10-23

This album feels like an emotional joy-ride; stealing his feelings for an hour or so, just to drive around with them. It's an impressively solid debut album. The liner notes say it's like a "soundtrack to [his] career." I can agree to that, the main thing holding these songs together is guy who wrote them; the songs on this album have a range of styles. I didn't mind. From the danceable bebop of “Upswing”, to the folk-poppy “On the Skids”, to the near-gospel style of “Shine a Light,” to the purely instrumental jazz of “Sinner Street” and “Prisoner of Love”, to the Latin-based sound of “Screeching Halt”, Carpenter pulls off every style of music he tossed on here, with excellent musicianship. Let's hope this first isn't also his last solo effort. Recommends: ( 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 ) ~ Chris Thomas

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 03/2016

    The Suitcase Junket
    Dying Star

  • reviewed 05/2009

    The Living History Band
    Chicago Blues: A Living History

  • reviewed 11/2010

    DR. TEQUILA
    DR. TEQUILA

  • reviewed 03/2014

    ALLISON THRASH
    DO YOU COME WITH THE DRINK?

  • reviewed 09/2008

    LIZ MANDEVILLE
    RED TOP

  • reviewed 10/2010

    CHRIS HARPER
    Four Aces And A Harp

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.