© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2007

Gary Moore
Close As You Get
Label-Eagle #2699201122

Being in his fifties has made Gary Moore realize that his Les Paul can be put to better use. Being a crazy rock 'n' roller isn't how he wants to spend the rest of his days. For the last 10 years or so, Moore has focused on eschewing his hard rock/heavy metal philosophies into something constructive. And though it has turned away some of his loyal fan base, it certainly has garnered praise from blues communities scattered across the United States.

So it comes as no surprise that his latest CD Close As You Get goes behind the velvet curtain to reveal Moore as the elder bluesman caught in a spiritual revelation. For probably the first time in his history, he uses a Dobro only on the rarely heard Son House nugget "Sundown". But Gary can't totally escape the crunch of a good riff as shown on opening track "If The Devil Made Whisky". And "Thirty Days" has enough testosterone to rival electric shock treatments.

On past efforts, Moore always balanced tracks on records to show more of a manic rocker. Certainly not the case with Close As You Get. As a matter of fact, the biggest gripe here is this might have more slower paced numbers than adrenaline pumped transcriptions.

That's not an insult. Moore can play a slow blues with the best of them. "Trouble At Home" oozes like a liquid mercury with Moore caressing a painful solo. And how can lovers resist holding each other close when "Have You Heard" plays on the jukebox? Moore is certainly the next bluesman to make playing a Les Paul a fashionable statement. And though Moore wants to spend his remaining days as a bluesman, he will find his way back home as an excuse to hotrod his material. "Hard Times" may be a shuffle, but it's got enough voltage to counteract a blackout.

Due to economic reasons, it's sad to say Moore will never come to our shores. Too bad. He is the only guy who I feel could compete with Walter Trout. And, that takes some doing.

- Gary Weeks -


Southwest Blues CD Review - September 2007

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