Taft plays at being the gangster of love on the slinky opening track “Wanted Man,” spelling out how he's gonna’ steal the heart of his ladylove. The rumbling road song, “Miles And Miles To Go,” is fueled by thundering tom toms from Nick, and chiming acoustic and electric guitars, to accompany words that give insight to Taft’s motivations. You can hear the sizzle of the sunset strip on the LA styled rocker, “Work It Out,” with its flashy dual guitars and California harmonies. He then takes a page out of the GNR playbook employing gritty riffs and muscular drumming during the forceful rocker, ”Burn It Down.” The seductive, “Set Me On Fire,” is a clever mixture of Chili Peppers Funk and Texas Blues that is sure to light up any dance floor. Taft makes his affections well known on the straight-ahead blues bump, “Pretty Little Thing,” confirming the thanks and accolades he gives to his wife and daughter in the liner notes. The salutations continue on the swirling sonic love song, “Topaz Blue,” an epic blues rock ballad with progressive, psychedelic, and orchestral flourishes.
The four on the floor rocker, “Same Mistakes,” chugs along with a message of repentance coupled with another great guitar solo. The swinging “No Yesterday,” rolls along with Hendrix styled flare and a healthy dose of optimism. The shimmering acoustic driven ballad “The Traveler,” is not only the album's most expansive track but a demonstration of Taft’s further development as a songwriter. A tricky guitar lead opens up the track “Into The Blue,” which quickly settles into a love song delivered as sweetly as this rough and ready cowboy can muster. Album closer, “No Time Left,” ask some heady questions and makes several poignant observations on the status of the world over another thundering drum groove and more fiery guitar work, thus putting the final touches on a very convincing, thinking man's blues rock record. Rick J Bowen
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BIOGRAPHY Dudley Taft grew up in the American Midwest, where he learned the values of friendship, roots blues, rock 'n' roll and a good ear of corn. With a background that includes Berklee College of Music as well as years touring with rock bands Sweet Water and Second Coming, Dudley is a thinking man’s blues rocker. There’s plenty of swagger here, but also the sensitivity of a thoughtful songwriter. In his music you’ll hear delta roots mingling with Seattle grunge, a southern twang with a high-octane crunch. Dudley was nominated “Best Guitarist” by the European Blues Awards in 2017. Dudley’s music career began in high school when he founded the band Space Antelope with friend Trey Anastasio (of Phish). In the 1990’s he joined the Seattle band, Sweet Water, touring the states with Monster Magnet, Candlebox and Alice in Chains. After recording two albums for Atlantic, he left the band to join Second Coming. More touring followed with an album on Capitol Records and a taste of success thanks to the single “Vintage Eyes” which made it to #10 on the Rock Radio charts. In 2006, Taft started playing blues rock in Seattle, releasing six studio albums and one live record. Left for Dead in 2010, Deep Deep Blue in 2012, Screaming In The Wind in 2014, and Skin and Bones in 2015, Live In Europe in 2016, Summer Rain 2017 and Simple Life in 2019. Reese Wynans of Stevie Ray Vaughan fame has played on three of these studio albums. Dudley has had four #1 songs on the Hit Tracks Top 100 charts, a #2 Blues Rock single (Give Me A Song) and Simple Life made it to #9 on the US Blues Rock Album charts. Taft has been touring in Europe since 2012, and in 2017 Taft was nominated “best guitarist” by the European Blues Awards. Dudley's music has been featured in movies and on television, most notably The Sixth Sense, and on That Metal Show and Gene Simmon's Family Jewels. Dudley now makes his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. WEBLINKS For more information: Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com  |
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