Bummin’ With blues

Don’t even consider buying this album if you’re looking for some good blues; you won’t find it here. The album should not have a home in the blues section of any store. Eric Bibb may have deep blues roots, but the final product is a folkish-blues-gospel blend that lacks a lot of the intense passion blues is known for. It can be hard to find some good blues these days; the genre that created rock and ’n’ roll receives little attention.

The album, though, is not that bad. Gospel goers, Bible Belters and Bibb fans should be pleased. But I think most would agree that this album does not surpass the work done on A Ship Called Love. The album, Get On Board, which was released March 11th, tries to serve a purpose. Bibb’s lyrics in the song “Get On Board” express the idea of getting on board a love train. The song “Step by Step” is dedicated to the late Dr. King, and “Stayed On Freedom” honors the civil rights movement.

Basically what Eric is trying to do is inspire peace among a nation that has fallen on hard times. It’s a respectable cause, but his political and religious agenda seeps into the album and contaminates it. Putting the music first would have served Bibb well. This has nothing to do with my religious or political opinion, but it’s a matter of the way the music sounds. By all means, write music about God and country and freedom, just don’t make it cheesy or unoriginal.

On many tracks throughout the album the lyrics disagree with the instrumentals, raucous when they should be soft, cloying when they should be powerful. I feel Bibb could achieve much more through his album if he were not tied back by trying to stay true to his blues/gospel roots and instead just sang simpler words with greater emphasis on his brilliant guitar playing.

Bibb can be a great blues singer at times on the album. “Pockets” is a great, simple blues song and is the best on the album standing next to “Step by Step.” Much attention is given to the opener “Spirit I Am,” which is a powerful and catchy song backed by strong back up vocals. All in all, I’m not a big fan of Bibb’s happy-blues style, but at least someone is still trying to make blues music.