2011 Appleseed Records
By Phillip Smith; July 16, 2011 originally for BluesRevue.com
David Bromberg, the legendary
singer/songwriter/instrumentalist brings it again, this time with a little help
from his friends. With each track
sporting a special guest, the idea for Use Me initiated from an
invitation from John Hiatt to mess around in his Nashville studio. From that point on, Bromberg called up a
variety of musically talented friends, and asked them each to assist in one way
or another in recording a song with him.
The results of this chain of events culminate into a wondrous potpourri
of music.
Bromberg kick-starts the
sequence of songs with “Tongue”, a fun bluesy treat featuring Levon Helm on
drums, and a tight rhythm section. A
second track featuring Helm, “Bring it With You When You Come” is a little
more rusty and country-fried, reminding me a bit of Helm’s earlier recordings
with The Band.
Keb’ Mo’ lends his talent as
producer/guitarist on slow-paced “Diggin’
in the Deep Blue Sea”, a timely response to the BP Oil Spill of 2010. Well written and thought out, this one
brings attention to the dangers of off-shore drilling, as Bromberg sings “Now
the fish can’t swim. You know the birds
can’t fly. We keep right on pumping ’cause
demand is high.”.
“Blue is Falling”, recorded
with Tim O’Brien on mandolin and backing vocals is a favorite. Stuart Duncan on fiddle, accentuates the song
as Bromberg seems to channel Roy Orbison
during the chorus. Another country
ditty, “Lookout Mountain Girl”, has Bromberg enlisting the talent of Vince Gill
(electric guitar, mandolin, backing vocals).
A track quite danceable and suitable for a Saturday night hoedown in
Tennessee.
A pair of other favorites are
“Old Neighborhood” and “Use Me”. “Old
Neighborhood”, a track recorded with, and produced by Widespread Panic, is a
playful and funky track, with lots of hot guitar licks and soulful
keyboards. Title track, “Use Me”, the
grand finale of the album was produced
by Phil and Joe Nicolo, aka The Butcher Bros.
Jim Miades contributes the bass line which adds the somewhat hypnotic
groove which makes this one so enjoyable.
The list of contributors is
as impressive as the album itself. The
remaining artists include Dr. John, Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt, and of course
John Hiatt. Use Me is a nice
album to listen to on a rainy Sunday afternoon, or any other time for that
matter.
