BLUES DONE THE RIGHT WAY

JOHN HAMMOND - PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

I have been into the blues since I bought BB King's LIVE AT THE REGAL record back in high school. Since then I have collected quite a bit of blues music covering all corners of the genre. I feel safe in saying that this John Hammond album is not only one of his best, but it is one of the best blues albums I have ever listened to.

On PUSH COMES TO SHOVE John collaborates with Garrett Dutton (G. Love) and together they turn out a record that I can't stop listening to. G. Love mostly stays in the background and produces
the album, only stepping out from behind the board on a couple of tracks to offer guitar and vocals. The real gem of this record is Hammond himself. His gut wrenching guitar playing and gritty voice bring each song alive and you can actually feel the music coursing through your body as you listen to it.

It starts off with the album's title track "Push Comes To Shove" and it never looks back from there. I find myself devouring each track then anxiously waiting for the next song, because they are all that good. "Mean 'Ol Lonesome Train", "Tore Down" and "Butter" are the gems of this record. Each song will get you tapping your feet, singing along and jamming on your own personal blues air guitar. If this doesn't happen then you are either dead or you have no clue as to what good music is.

The boy loves this record like no other. He car seat dances the whole way home when this is in the player. John Hammond and G.Love have delivered one hell of a dirty, nasty blues album that is worth snagging.