Sound off: CD Reviews

My Walking Stick

(Black Hen)

While Jim Byrnes might not be as familiar to American music listeners as to those in Canada, he has nevertheless made his mark in the music world. Having released numerous albums and collected more than a few Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Award), Byrnes is considered a blues artist, but on his latest effort, "My Walking Stick," Byrnes deftly crosses back and forth from blues to gospel to R&B. With a group of musicians that include alumni from bands that backed the likes of David Bowie, Tom Waits, and Fiona Apple, Byrnes definitely delivers here. Starting with his song, "Ol' Rattler," and continuing through more original tunes and a few covers, Byrnes demonstrates how deftly he can transition between song styles. The R&B of "Lookin' For A Love," the gospel goodness of "I Want My Crown," and a great cover of The Band's "Ophelia" prove my Byrnes is considered such a treasure in the Great White North.

Download These: "Ophelia," "Ol' Rattler," "Lookin' For A Love"

Sugar Shack

(Blind Pig)

Being named the best at anything in a music poll can definitely boost your confidence as a musician, not to mention increase the number of folks who pay attention to your music. In the case of blues musician Damon Fowler, it may have been a case of deciding which accolade meant the most when a newspaper in his hometown of Tampa named him Best Guitarist, Best Slide Guitarist, Best Dobro Player, and Best Lap Steel Player. Fowler, who has been playing guitar since the age of twelve, has been releasing albums for a decade now, and his new CD, "Sugar Shack," easily demonstrates why this rising blues star turns so many heads. With a generous serving of original songs, as well as covers by Billy Joe Shaver, The Amazing River Aces, and Merle Haggard, "Sugar Shack" definitely delivers. Check out his own "Some Fun" and "Lonely Blues," as well as a great cover of Haggard's "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down." Often one will be amazed at the skill of a blues guitarist, only to find that his or her singing voice is lacking (or vice versa), but Fowler proves to be a triple threat; singing, playing guitar, and composing tunes like a pro.

Download These: "Some Fun," "Lonely Blues," "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down"

Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison

(Dark Horse/Capitol/Apple)

It has been two decades since a decent collection of George Harrison's work was released. That last retrospective, "The Best of Dark Horse," only covered the Quiet Beatle's work from 1976 to 1989. One would have expected that after his death in 2001 that the market would have been flooded with Harrison-related material, but aside from a posthumous studio release, we got nada. Now, nearly nine years later, we get "Let It Roll," which does a satisfying job of collecting music from throughout Harrison's solo career. Folks who might have understandably paid more attention to the careers of fellow Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney might be surprised at the size and quality of Harrison's solo output. Early Harrison songs such as "My Sweet Lord," "Isn't It a Pity," "All Those Years Ago," and "What is Life" blend well with later hits such as "Got My Mind Set On You" and "When We Was Fab." There are even live versions of Beatles hits such as "Something," "Here Comes the Sun," and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Download These: "My Sweet Lord," "Got My Mind Set On You," "When We Was Fab"