Review by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
4 stars out of 4
Tab Benoit is an original in every sense of the word. He is a Cajun
man born and raised on the blues. Now he performs the music of his
ancestors in a most zealous and earnest manner. "Wetlands" is very
adventurous and descriptive title for this CD. The region that the
man hails from is found in the very depths of his soul, creating a
wellspring of emotion that comes pouring out with his snappy guitar
playing and gruff vocal delivery. The music is born of the legendary
swamplands of Louisiana. The liner notes do a fine job priming you
for the ultimate Cajun blues experience. The history of the area and
the people that invented the music has a rich and colorful legacy
that has lived on through the music of people like Tab Benoit, God
bless him. I think all the music that you hear today originated from
this genre. Yes, I believe that all music was derived from the roots
of the blues, and I know there are plenty of folks out there that would agree with me.
Benoit serves up a smorgasbord of the da blues, and he doesn't hold
back a thing. That is the reason this album is without fail entertaining.
From the stinging guitar lines of the opener "Fast and Free" to the
southern drawl of "Georgia," Benoit gives you the full blues treatment.
Every ounce of sweat that drips off his brow is filled with the sweltering
heat of the south. It's the kind of sweat that you can taste the salt
in, as it burns your skin in the hot summer sun. That kind of feeling
and reality is reminiscent of the slaves that toiled in the fields
and made this music what it is.
Tab Benoit is the real deal; he plays the blues as they should be,
with feeling and moral fiber. This is the best effort of 2002 that
I have heard from the Telarc vaults. I am sure there are many more to come.
Songs:
1. Fast and Free (Benoit) - 3:11
2. Stackolina (Benoit) - 4:08
3. I Got Loaded (Harris) - 4:28
4. Muddy Bottom Blues (Benoit) - 4:22
5. When a Cajun Man Gets the Blues (Benoit) - 4:21
6. Too Sweet for Me (Benoit) - 3:07
7. Down in the Swamp (Benoit) - 4:49 8. These Arms of Mine (Redding) - 4:17
9. Dog Hill (Chavis/Simien) - 3:44
10. Her Mind Is Gone (Byrd) - 3:42
11. Loves Lips (Benoit) - 3:13
12. Let Love Take Control (Benoit) - 5:46
13. Georgia (Osborne) - 7:43
Credits:
Tab Benoit - Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Mixing
Darryl White - Drums
Brian Stoltz - Guitar, Vocals
Anders Osborne - Guitar, Vocals, Production Assistant
Carl Dufrene-Bass
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