Ben Poole: Time Has Come Review

Time Has Come by singer/guitarist Ben Poole is the follow up full length studio release to 2014’s Live At The Royal Albert Hall.  Ben is still a relatively new artist on the blues scene.  With his smooth tone, tenor voice and pop sensibilities, Ben has clear crossover potential. Time Has Come has an official release date of April 1, 2016. Wayne Proctor is credited as the producer and guitarists  Aynsley Lister, Henrik Freischlader and Todd Sharpville are guests.

The album opens with the hard rocking “Lying To Me,”  the most aggressive track on the record and then takes it down a few notches with “I Think I Love You Too Much.” This is a soulful number sporting a nice mid-tempo groove, John Mayer-esque vocals and guitar work right out of the Robben Ford soloing book. Next is the soulful 6/8 ballad, “Longing For A Woman.”  This is a tender piece with some nice organ and piano work.  Ben picks it up a little more on “If You Want To Play With My Heart,” but brings it back down immediately with “Time Might Never Come.” The latter has a solo that is more than just a slight nod to David Gilmour’s iconic solo on “Comfortably Numb.”

“The Question Why” with it’s sweet ’70s southern California vibe, rounds out the album.  With the exception of the opening track, the entire record has a very mellow feel about it. Even the up-tempo “Stay At Mine” with it’s spanky Telecaster work feels like it’s just simmering and not really on full burn.

Time Has Come is a well made record. The songs are solid and Ben has a very nice voice in the pop/soul niche. There is also no deying his guitar cops. The notes seem to pop out of the mix and his phrasing will definitely tickle your ear. If you like some of the more current music from Jonny Lang and John Mayer, then Time Has Come is right up your alley.

The Review: 9/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– I Think I Love You Too Much
– Time Might Never Come
– Lying To Me
– Longing For A Woman
The Big Hit
– I Think I Love You Too Much

Supersonic Blues Machine: West of Flushing, South of Frisco Review

Supersonic Blues Machine, formed by bassist and vocalist Fabrizio Grossi, and drummer Kenny Aronoff with guitarist Lance Lopez, has just set out on their maiden voyage with their release West Of Flushing South Of Frisco. In addition to the already stellar line up, the release features guest performances by Billy Gibbons, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, Robben Ford, Eric Gales and Chris Duarte making this super group even “more super.”

If you are familiar with Lance Lopez’s music then you know that this album is all about hard driving southern rock and blues based riffs. The album opens with the southern rock inflected “Miracle Man.” All the Lopez penned tracks are strong but here he shows off his knack for great hooks. In the right hands (or wrong hands depending on your point of view) the hooks are catchy enough to find a home on country radio. But don’t be alarmed. He follows up with the minor key grooving “I Ain’t Falling Again” and from that point on, the album just burns the entire farm to the ground.

The guest artists all put their unique stamp on their perspective tracks. Billy Gibbon’s “Running Whiskey” could be a lost ZZ Top track and “Remedy” with Warren Haynes would sound at home on a Gov’t Mule record. Both Chris Duarte and Eric Gales give empassioned performances. The ballad “Let’s Call It A Day” is a perfect vehicle for the legendary Robben Ford and shows him at this melodic best. He and Lance even do a little harmony work on the intro as well as near the end of the track.

West of Flushing, South of Frisco is a total treat for the those of us who crave great hard driving blues based rock and ear frying guitar playing. The core of Supersonic Blues Machine of Lopez, Grossi, and Aronoff have nothing to prove. They could easly have carried the entire project themselves. The guest stars are just icing on an already very tasty cake.

The Review: 9.5/10

Can’t Miss Tracks

– Miracle Man
– Running Whiskey
– I Ain’t Falling Again
– Nightmares and Dreams
– That’s My Way

The Big Hit

– Remedy