New Jersey rocker Trevor B. Power has recorded an album of original rock and blues numbers played with a definite flair. Besides singing, he plays guitars and harmonica. Co-producer Anthony Krizan also plays guitars, drums, bass, tambourine and adds backing vocals. Will Wilde adds harmonica to one selection, John Ginty plays the B3, and Rob Clores plays piano and also the B3. Except for Wilde's harmonica on "Get Well Johnny," the specific personnel on specific selections is not identified. (Wilde's contribution is specified in the publicity, not on the CD).
Opening with a hard rock topical "World Gone Madd," Power sings robustly with slight gravel in his voice against an emphatic backing with whining slide guitar. It's followed by a funky blues, "Get Well Johnny," devoted to his older brother with some wailing harmonica from Wilde. The publicity makes a comparison of Power to John Mellencamp. One can hear similarities in Power's topical song, "Pandemic (2020)." This song relates to people's spirit in striving to overcome these difficult times.
"Easier Way" is a driving blues with plenty of Hound Dog Taylor meets George Thorogood broom-dusting slide guitar and a gravelly, almost spoken vocal. "Life Is Good" is a solid old-fashioned rock and roll with rollicking piano from Clores. There is more hard rock with "Sexy Bitch," a duet with Danielle Illario. Power's hoarse shouting vocal here may be his weakest, but Illario sings with a definite appeal. Up after this is a country-styled lament "I'm a Fool," and a bluesy shuffle "Woman," with some evocative slide guitar and restrained backing.
A Dylan-esque number, "This Old Road," has a moody, pensive vocal while Power plays an acoustic twelve-string guitar. It closes an album that crosses genres with a number of appealing performances.
I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "Pandemic (2020)."
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