Categories : Country + Western, Music Reviews.
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Rating: 3.5/5 Released: January 10, 2006 Reviewer: Trent Depue |
Following a busy year in 2005, including such projects as co-producing Bruce Cockburn’s Speechless and Colin James’ Limelight, Juno winner and Grammy nominee Colin Linden jumps right into 2006 with his tenth release Easin’ Back to Tennessee. Linden both produces and mixes the album on which he returns to his blues roots from the more diverse styling of last year’s Southern Jumbo.
Joined by a two piece rhythm section, Linden’s slide guitar driven album returns to the basics as he pays tribute to the influences in his life and career with nine blues covers, starting with the title track. Superlative slide guitar on Linden’s high energy take of Tampa Red’s ‘You Can’t Get the Stuff No More,’ takes top honours and previous collaborator T-Bone Burnett’s ‘There Would be Hell to Pay’ also makes an excellent showing.
Covers aside, Linden takes writing credit on the albums four additional songs, including the not quite as bluesy ‘Champ,’ where he flexes his musical muscles, playing the slide guitar, mandolin and electric bass.
Consistently excellent guitar work is the mark of this veteran who, although not a household name, has been making his mark on music for over twenty five years, both behind the microphone and behind the scenes on countless other albums. With Easin’ Back to Tennessee comes one more success worthy of addition to an already accomplished career.
Buy Easin’ Back to Tennessee from iTunes >> 
