To be perfectly honest we are not really huge fans of the whole acoustic blues thing, believing as we do that electricity is there for a reason. If it was good enough for Muddy and John Lee then it should be good enough for everyone else. However, every now and again someone comes along who delivers acoustic blues of such quality that it is impossible to ignore. One such artist is Ernie Southern.
Ernie mainly performs his own compositions, although he throws in several excellent cover versions as well. A case in point being his version of Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trail", which is a truly phenomenal masterpiece of haunting atmospheric blues. With "Prozac Blues" he delivers a gem of a song that is a witty and traditional blues for our troubled times - perfect music for 'the-pill-for-everything-generation'. "Ain't Goin' Bald Jus' Getting Mo' Head" on the other hand returns us to the humorous innuendo and somewhat risqué blues style of old.
"Youth Is Wasted On The Young" is his lament to, well, a wasted youth; and is definitely one most people will identify with to some extent, either because they've had one or wished they'd had one! "Just The Way You Say Goodbye" is a fine slower, passionate blues, and "Train Gone Dead" is another fantastic piece of guitar and harmonica blues that brings the album to a close.
With Ernie demonstrating his not inconsiderable skill on the National Resophonic Guitar with only percussion, and sometimes harmonica, as accompaniment, this is one for blues purists. Unplugged, stripped back and flowing from the very heart of the Delta, Ernie proves that there is still a place for acoustic blues after all.
For more information on Ernie Southern and to listen to some songs, visit his Sonicbids EPK.