Gary Moore: Close As You Get

By now Gary Moore has hopefully made a few more North Americans appreciate the blues. While longer in the tooth than perhaps Robert Cray in terms of career, Moore is definitely one of the more consistent blues guitarists around. And this album is no different. The majority of these songs are dirty blues rock, beginning with the slow but steady “If the Devil Made Whiskey” where Moore churns out some fine bottleneck blues on the bridge. But things slow down early with the soulful, mournful “Trouble at Home” and the equally pleasing “Have You Heard” as Moore shows his chops throughout. There are some rather routine tracks like the rockabilly romp “Thirty Days” and the ordinary “Evenin’”, yet Moore picks it up with the stronger, bluesy beauties like “Hard Times”. The highlight of the album might be the harmonica-laced “Checkin’ Up on My Baby” which works on several levels. Another gem is the lengthy “I Had a Dream” which would be the perfect complement to Clapton’s “River of Tears”.