Bryce Janey - Blues in my Soul : From the Archives #17

2010 – Grooveyard Records  

By Phillip Smith; July 10, 2010

Blues in my Soul, the latest release by Bryce Janey, shows true grit as it showcases his skillful song writing, fine guitar slinging, and deep soulful vocals.  There is a huge Texas blues presence on this album, akin to the likes of Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.   Accompanying Janey are Dan Johnson on bass, and Eric Douglas on drums.  Both are excellent musicians and assist in making Blues in my Soul the enjoyable listening experience that it is.  

The bass line Dan Johnson provides for “Walkin’ on a Live Wire”, is infectious and ominous.  I could listen to this song all day long.  It is my favorite track.  Janey has a talent for making his Strat sing, and the way he exhibits that talent makes this song a treat to listen to.   Another great song, “Mission For Love”, with its’ funky trance-inducing groove, is pure enjoyment. 

“City Under Water” stirred up a lot of emotion, as it unleashed memories of the flood of 2008 which hit Cedar Rapids very hard, and left an unfathomable amount of destruction.  The feeling of helplessness we all had as we saw the river rise out of its banks are duly expressed as Janey sings,  ‘The sky is falling.  The ground is coming up.  Water at my knees.  I’m running out of luck.’ 

Other notable cuts include a pair of really cool cover songs, Johnny Winter’s “Medicine Man”, and Robin Trower’s spacey ballad “In This Place”.   Blues in my Soul is a fine album.  Pick it up and have a good listen.

For more information about Bryce Janey :  http://www.thejaneys.com/


http://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/