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Bryan Lee

Katrina Was Her Name

(Justin Time; US: 26 Jun 2007; UK: 30 Jul 2007)

Bryan Lee can’t forget what happened to New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. But while not celebrating the fact that his city was destroyed and hundreds were killed, Lee makes the most of the opportunity to bring the blues back to the city. Bringing to mind the likes of fellow city resident Fats Domino, Lee shines on the swinging blues of “29 Ways”, the funky “Don’t Joke with the Stroke” and the equally pleasing “Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You”, the latter featuring some mean guitar solo work. This record is all about having a party and damn good time, with “Barefootin’” keeping the momentum going. While it might pale compared to the likes of Robert Cray or Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lee delivers the soul needed to get these songs over the bar, as is the case with the gorgeous but stark title track. The only problem is that some tracks don’t quite work, including the ordinary “Take It Like a Man” and the sullen “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”.

Rating:

Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


Tagged as: bryan lee
Related Articles
12 May 2010
The tireless performer's twelfth album finds him in great form as his high, keening blues wail and greasy fretwork lead a stellar line-up through a mix of sultry R&B, lowdown electric Chicago blues, and a loping funky title track.
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