Samuel James goes back to the delta

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If you like delta blues and some sick slide guitar you will like Portland , Maine bluesaltman Samuel James’ new CD “For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen,” which takes the listener back to the delta, back in the day. It has some dark, disturbing and somewhat wry lyrics especially on the first track, ‘Big, Black Ben’ which is the story of a black man getting lynched by the members of the KKK, except their rope is too long.
James has an impressive  and almost menacing New Orleans drawling baritone which is reminiscent of  Dr. John’s. He also sounds like Todd Snider in places as well.
The CD moves along at a consistent clip. All of the songs feature  some sick slide and some pretty fingerpicking in slower numbers like “Rosa’s Sweet Little Love Song.”
‘Miss Noreen’ has some impressive banjo playing. There is some impressive guitar  picking on “Trouble on Congress Street Road.”
It is all acoustic, but is is enrapturing just the same, enveloping the listener.“Wooden Tombstone” is a really cool acappella  number. Basically if you like delta blues, you’ll enjoy  this CD
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor

CD: Samuel James
Title: For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen
Genre: blues
Label: Northern Blues
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