CD Review - All Odds Against Me, John Lee Hooker, Jr

All Odds Against Me: Specifics
Artist: John Lee Hooker, Jr.
Label: Steppin' Stone Records (domestic), Jazzhaus Records (Europe)
Release date: August 2008

All Odds Against Me: Review

Stepping from the shadows of his legendary father, John Lee Hooker, Jr. released All Odds Against Me to wide-scale praise and accolades from both fans and the music industry alike. Released on his label, Steppin' Stone Records, this CD was honored with a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album, as well as generating many other awards for John Lee himself.

This collection of 12 new, original songs highlights John Lee's songwriting ability and showcases his unique jazz-blues sound. From traditional blues songs like Old School to more contemporary tunes like The People Want A Change, John Lee offers an eclectic mix of styles that combine to make a great sounding CD. For lovers of blues music, All Odds Against Me represents the new sound of
blues for the 21^st century and should help John, Jr. become a the second legendary bluesman in the Hooker family.

All Odds Against Me: Track by track

Dear John - The CD starts off with a hard-luck story of a man in jail who receives a letter from his wife outlining their impending divorce and her new found happiness. The details are painful for nearly any man to hear, even if the letter isn't addressed to him.

Extramarital Affair is a funky blues number that features a great guitar lick and tasty horns. Apparently this track was inspired by a band member who seemed to have a girl in every town on the tour.

One Eye Open harkens back to more traditional blues about having to keep on the watch for the things that go bump in the night.

I Miss You So is a swinging, upbeat number that sounds like something you'd hear at the Montreal Jazz Festival. It's the kind of song you listen to in the car, wide open with the top down.

I've Got Your Back has John Lee offering promises of help to his woman, in the event of any possible altercation. Again, it's a smooth jazz-blues number that sounds reminiscent of Lou Rawls.

Payday shows a softer side of John Lee, telling the stories of kids forced to live less than ideal lives.

Stressed Out turns the volume back up and falls into the Chicago/Detroit style of blues, with great guitar solos.

There's A Struggle talks about the trials and tribulations of life, and features a smooth groove, produced by a tight drum line and tone-infused organ.

Old School sounds like the type of guitar/vocal track that you might expect from John, Sr. It's a cool, foot-tapping blues tune that seals John Lee's fate as a bluesman.

Blues Ain't Nothing But A Pimp is a full-scale blues show tune that has John Lee sounding like a 21^st century Cab Calloway. I love the horn section and backing band vocals in this tune.

The People Want A Change starts off with a sound that makes the listener think of Tower of Power, but the socially-charge lyrics could have come from a Bob Dylan protest song. John Lee uses this track to address issues with health care, rising gas prices and unemployment, but manages to keep the tune funky.

That Be The Blues - The only way that I can describe this song is to have the listener picture a smoky, jazz-blues club at about 2am when the band is getting loose and the music starts to take on a life of its own.