Scott Ellison
Steamin'
(JSECD21201)
Scott Ellison: Steamin' (JSE CD 21201) The cover art of
this album cover depicts a coffee pot blowing off steam while sitting atop
of a guitar. This image gives the listener a pretty apt description of
what to expect music-wise on the album, plenty of aggressive, in your face
blues-rock guitar. Liner notes for the recording are sketchy, but I assume
that Scott Ellison is a singer/guitarist from Tulsa, Oklahoma despite the
fact that the album was recorded in California. The album is co-produced
by Ellison who also co-wrote all the songs on the album except for one.
The album kicks off with "Steamin" which is a mid tempo shuffle
reminiscent of SRV's "Pride and Joy." On this tune along with
some of the other harder rocking tunes, Ellison calls to mind the music of
Chris Duarte or Corey Stevens. Ellison turns up the intensity by firing
off sustained guitar passages on the slow blues tune "I'm In
Trouble." Ellison also gets my award for the best song title of the
year with "Jesus Loves Me (Baby Why Don't You)," a swinging
Texas shuffle featuring more of Ellison's hot guitar work. Ellison also
whips out the slide as he burns a hole through the Buddy Holly classic
"Not Fade Away." The best tune of the bunch is a relaxed funky
tune called "Big Blue Car" which contains a great hook and shows
that Ellison could have the crossover potential of an artist like Jeff
Healey. Overall, this is a well-written and produced independent album
from a young artist who should continue to grow and develop. Ellison has
written some really fine songs that should help distinguish him from the
rest of the artists in the crowded blues-rock arena.
- Barry T. Gober -
Southwest Blues CD Review - October 1999
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