Keb’ Mo’, BLUESAmericana

Keb’ Mo’

BLUESAmericana

Reviewed by: Lara Supan

This album could not be titled any better. A straight and simple blues Americana album from Keb’ Mo’ will give you exactly what it promises.

BLUESAmericana is a sweet, light-hearted and playful album filled with back river New Orleans blues and back country finger pickin’ americana. While a couple of the songs seem to verge on being overly simplistic and childlike, the majority of the songs are well-written, feel-good gems.

By far the most entertaining song on BLUESAmericana is track eight, titled “The Old Me Better”. This straight up old school New Orleans blues band song has a chorus that reads “you made me a brand new man, but I like the old me better”, and speaks to the upside of drinking, partying and all sorts of delinquent behavior. Complete with a  punchy tuba bass line, this song will make you think you’re hot stepping down Bourbon street with a hurricane in your hand.

In contrast, don’t worry about listening to the last track, “Goodbye So Long”- it’s a bit too sweet and elementary in contrast to the rest of the album. With a female vocalist adding some saccharine harmonies, it just doesn’t hit the mark like the rest of the songs on BLUESAmericana do so well.

BLUESAmericana is a utilitarian album. Whether you’d like a song to help you make up with you significant other (“For Better or Worse”) or break up with them (“The Old Me Better”), Keb’ Mo’ will help you “Do it Right”. (See, he even helps me finish my sentences. What a guy!)

Rating- Bad Ass