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Tinsley Ellis

Moment of Truth

(Alligator; US: 26 Jun 2007; UK: 16 Jul 2007)

Longtime blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis has once again crafted an album that the elders of the genre would be proud of. The rather funky groove of “Say Too Much” is a bit of Sly and The Family Stone, yet Ellis’ Clapton-circa-Cream-meaty chops seal the deal. “Somebody” sounds a tad too mundane. Fortunately Ellis generally sticks to what he does best which is a strong and genuine effort on the B.B. King-ish “You’re Gonna Thank Me” which features some blistering picking and solos. Meanwhile “Tell the Truth” is a slower but equally stellar piece of work that glides along easily. The same can be said of the delectable “Too Much of Everything” which has too much guitar (in my book that is never, ever a bad thing). Perhaps the highlight here is the creepy, crawler “Freeway Soul” which brings to mind the likes of Robert Cray as it slinks along as does the soulful “Sleep on It”.

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: tinsley ellis
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29 Jan 2010
Ellis continues to pound away at the blues with the force of a battering ram, but crisp, polished production cleans off the muck, grime, and grub that should have been left on this disc.
19 Jul 2005
The blues recorded is only one-upped by the blues live. And the blues live is only one-upped by a few blues guitarists out there. Tinsley Ellis is one of 'em.
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