Power of the Pontchartrain
Tab Benoit's album titles leave little doubt as to where he's from or the music he plays. Brother to the Blues, Fever for the Bayou, Wetlands, and now Power of the Pontchartrain exude the sweaty Louisiana swamp, blues, and R&B inherent in their names. But that only tells part of the story--the rest is in the grooves where Benoit's distinctive, grainy voice and tough Telecaster leads bring soul, grit, and intensity to a sound already infused with an earthy sensibility. There's more of the same on this disc, but that's no criticism. Benoit generally sticks with others' songs here, yet he unearths hidden gems. Julie Miller's "Midnight and Lonesome" is dragged into the murky swamps as a driving ballad with eerie qualities that live up to its name. Miller and husband Buddy are also credited with the righteous-yet-rugged gospel of "Shelter Me." "Somebody's Got to Go," originally by Lonnie Johnson, gets a crisp, frisky makeover, and even Buffalo Springfield's crusty "For What It's Worth" takes a swim in the muddy waters of Benoit's home state, with a little help of some altered, post-Katrina lyrics. The guitarist lets his Cajun influences fly on the bouncy rhythms of "Sac-Au-Lait Fishing," the album's only original, and shifts into pleading Otis Redding mode for the aching blues ballad "I'm Guilty of Lovin' You." The Chicago-by-way-of-the-Delta shuffle of "One Foot in the Bayou" is also an apt description of Benoit's approach. He touches on a variety of Americana styles, yet always keeps part of himself planted firmly in the wetlands of his roots. --Hal Horowitz more
- Price Range:$12.99 to $15.99 | 3 stores
- Info:
- Tags:
ComparePrices
| title,desc | merchant | price | seeit |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Smarter Choice
Power Of The Pontchartrain |
|
See it | |
|
Power of the Pontchartrain
Track Listing: 1. Don't Make No Sense - (with Louisiana's Leroux/Tony Haselden/David Peters/Leon Medica/Nelson... |
|
See it | |
| Power of the Pontchartrain | See it |
*Shipping costs are based on an estimate of the lowest shipping rate available within the contiguous US, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Only merchants with this product in stock are listed (Merchants with this product back ordered have been removed from this list).
Do you see a pricing error? Please let us know by filling out a simple form: Click here
MoreStores
ProductReviews97/100 (17 Reviews)
Recent Reviews
- 4/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Mar-29-2008
- Call to Spirit
I bought this CD for one song, track 3, Shelter Me. To my surprise and pleasure all the tracks are good but track 3 is still the stand-out.
- read full review | report as inappropriate
- 3/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Jan-12-2008
- Benoit knows NO feel
Good guitar. Has the feel of the New Orleans scene. Excusing an arrangement or two, it's a good listen.
- read full review | report as inappropriate
- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Dec-28-2007
- Power of the Pontchartrain
Excellent Blues cd with a strong dose of Cajun from a very talented artist! I had never heard of Tab Benoit before I found him here on Amazon, but after hearing this wonderful cd, I'm anxious to get more of his work! I'm a true fan now!
- read full review | report as inappropriate
- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Dec-15-2007
- Nearly Perfect Blues Disc
I first heard Tab Benoit at the 2006 Western Maryland Blues Fest and this is the first cd of his that I purchased. He really knows his way around a guitar and that sound dominates this effort. He runs the gamut from soulful ballads to...
- read full review | report as inappropriate
Selected Reviews
- 4/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Mar-29-2008
- Call to Spirit
I bought this CD for one song, track 3, Shelter Me. To my surprise and pleasure all the tracks are good but track 3 is still the stand-out.
- read full review | report as inappropriate
- 3/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Jan-12-2008
- Benoit knows NO feel
Good guitar. Has the feel of the New Orleans scene. Excusing an arrangement or two, it's a good listen.
- read full review | report as inappropriate
