Woke up this morning. Da-na-da-na. Got myself the blues. Da-na-da-na. There is no shortage of people with the blues these days and Peter McGraw shows that he too has the blues with this album "Follow Me to the Blues".
Certainly, the majority of the tracks on this album are blues standards and the performances are likewise solid but unadventurous. The standard of musicianship is high enough but the band brings little to these songs that you average Friday night blues band would not. "The Ski is Crying" and "Unchain My Heart" work well but other tracks like "Bring It on Home to Me" are rather pedestrian. That's the thing with doing standards. Everybody had heard a better version of them somewhere. Nonetheless, Peter McGraw's voice is a pleasure to listen to bringing that all important sense of world weariness that these songs deserve.
It is, however, an overcrowded marketplace and, whilst Peter McGraw's gruff vocals will help him stand out from that crowd, the aforementioned selection of songs will also hold no surprises for anyone. Mr McGraw (and the band) do a decent enough job on this album but only the title track and "As The Years Go Passing By" really show what he is actually capable of. A qualified recommendation is therefore due. You'll enjoy this one if you have had a long week and need some music to accompany those Friday night beers.
Available from CD Baby.