Rootstime Review -- Guilty of the Blues

Wilson has not been idle after releasing "After The Storm", but wrote more than thirty new songs. From this offer he has carefully selected thirteen songs for his third album "Guilty Of The Blues". Rod opens firmly with track one "Black Widow", in the background he is supported by the organ grooves of Bob Hopps and the horn section (Joe Kleykamp: sax, John Pope: trombone & John Francis: trumpet). The title song which follows "Guilty Of The Blues" is a Latino tinged song with a little more percussion by Roy Edmiston and the rhythm section (Shannon Link: bass & Roy Edmiston: drums). Track three "Best Days" mixes mandolin and percussion well for a very tight sound. Moving on to track five, because we're going to rock with "Shufflin Sue." Track six is also a rocker, "Living In a Smoke Screen", which Rod shows his frustrations in some sharp solos with amazing pedal work. Interstate 75 (abbreviated I-75) is the highway that Hialeah, a suburb of Miami, Florida, connects with Canada in the state of Michigan. I-75 crosses six states. This highway has something to do with blues, because in the middle class old fashioned rocker track seven "I-75 Highway Blues" shows that sing-a-longs with Rod on I-75 would be very entertaining. Is track eight "Midwest Boy" autobiographical? I think so ... In this wonderful bluesy song Rod makes us his blues story. With track nine "Brand New Shoes" lets Bob Hopps groove on the organ again. Is track ten “Rebel Blues” an ode to the English blues or maybe something else? ... With the violin of William McNeil track eleven “Walking In These Shoes” is the other latino tinted song. Lightnin Rod Wilson as we experience is always exciting and in in track twelve "Rooster In The Hen House he also affirms his skill on banjo and his instrumental cackle. We conclude with track thirteen "Love You Too Much", an entertaining blues rocker, which is full of emotional outpourings and matching solos. 

"Lightnin '" Rod Wilson and his "Thunderbolts" with their new album "Guilty Of The Blues" clearly show that they have much in store for audiences. This is blues rock from Michigan, which certainly deserves our attention. Great rocking blues! 

Eric Schuurmans - Rootstime (Feb 8, 2015)