Lloyd Jones
Love Gotcha
(Blind Pig 5057)
Lloyd Jones's first release
on Blind Pig Records is a CD full of bouncing, funky, and gritty blues.
Jones, a man who professes to 'love his job', lets that enthusiasm ring
through loud and clear on Love Gotcha. Solid songwriting, soulful singing,
and crisp guitar playing are the signatures of this CD. Add punchy horn
arrangements to this mix and you have a recipe for a very solid
contemporary blues CD. Having started his musical career out as a drummer,
later switching to guitar, Lloyd Jones demonstrates on Love Gotcha a good
understanding of different styles that range from subtle, to rockin' and
in yo' face. His singing has just enough grit to make him sound just the
slightest bit like Delbert McClinton, and a little road weary, but always
sounding fresh and original.
Of the twelve tunes on this CD, Jones wrote
or co-wrote nine, and even covers a Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee song
"Ride and Roll" very well. "Nickels and Dimes" kicks
off the CD with a super funk groove. Singing about the low price of human
life, this is a fine example of Jones' lyric writing skills, with chilling
verses about people killing each other for "Nickels and Dimes."
Moving on to the upbeat shuffle of "I Declare," good horn
breaks, and ripping guitar solos punctuate this declaration of love. The
CD's title song "Love Gotcha," another example of great lyrics,
is full of punch and drive with a deep groove that really seems to end too
soon. Getting soulful, "Ain't Nothing a Young Girl Can Do,"
shows Lloyd Jones' lighter touch with his music while extolling the
virtues of 'older women'. "Old News" slows things down like a
smoky barroom burner. 'I used to be a headline, but now I'm just old news'
is a great line around which Jones builds a moving blues tune and a great
backdrop for his expressive guitar playing. "Shake 'Em Up"
brings back the funk with big horns and guitar that is reminiscent of
Robert Cray.
I could go on, but you get the picture here; good singing and
good playing are the hallmarks of this very good CD. One thing that
surprised me about Love Gotcha is that Lloyd Jones himself produces it.
All of the arrangements are to the point, with no downtime anywhere in the
music. Every song makes it's own statement and each can easily
stand-alone. The horns were arranged by Glenn Holstrom, (piano, organ) all
to good effect. Jones' backing band is tight and seems well suited to the
style changes. I'm sure they are a great 'live' unit, who play with drive
and feeling. I would say that Love Gotcha should gain Lloyd Jones the
greater acclaim that he deserves. Already a mainstay on the West Coast and
elsewhere, this CD should break even more ground for this hard working
musician and his band. Put this one in the CD changer, leave it there
awhile and see why Lloyd Jones' Love Gotcha is probably gonna getcha!
- Pete Barbeck -
Southwest Blues CD Review - August 1999
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