GARY CLARK,JR.

concerns, “Running From The Devil” [by]
“...trying to keep up with the Lord,” the loping
tribute to pharmaceutical erection
enhancers, “Blue Pill Thrill,” the slinky sardonic
jeremiad, “Drowning In Hollywood,”
the Robert Cray-Johnny “Guitar” Watson
(his 1970s disco-blues phase) blues-rock
amalgam, “Miss American Girl,” the aforementioned
“The Healer,” and the smoldering
“Country Boy,” a slow blues affirmation
of his roots with blistering guitar reminiscent
of the late Michael Burks (who is namechecked
in Harmon’s liner notes). The soul
tunes seem more influenced by the popsoul
of groups like the Commodores and
48 BLUES REVUE
Kool & the Gang than by the classic Southern
soul sounds of Stax or Hi. For fans of a
harder, grittier type of soul-blues, the
pristinely produced, pop-oriented soul
tunes may not hold much appeal, and even
less so for traditional blues fans.
Overall, this is one of the most “modern”
sounding soul-blues recordings sans
drum machines I’ve ever heard. (I prefer
crispness and clarity with a bit more coarseness.)
Harmon is a confident, commanding
vocalist; his seamless blend of silk and
sandpaper suggestive of Z.Z. Hill and
McKinley Mitchell (former employers). In
addition to guitar, Harmon contributes some
bass, keyboards, and drums. The basic
band of Cedric Goodman (drums), Corey
Lacey (keyboards), and Buthel (bass) are
tight and versatile, major requirements for
the variegated music herein. Music Is Medicine
is a good album with a couple song-ofthe-year
candidates (“Drowning In
Hollywood” and “Blue Pill Thrill”) and some
stirring performances; however, a few more
blues tunes and a few less coats of production
varnish would make it even better.
– Thomas J. Cullen III
MARION JAMES
Northside Soul
EllerSoul
Although “Nashville’s Queen of the Blues”
has been on the Music City scene for over
50 years, this is only the third album by a
singer/songwriter deserving of a much
larger discography. Back in the mid-Sixties
a pre-fame Jimi Hendrix and his bass-playing
buddy Billy Cox were in her band. Soul
music aficionados have made her lone
Excello single “That’s My Man”(a Top Ten
R&B hit in 1966) a collector’s item as they
have with her even more obscure single on
the K&J imprint “Find Out What You Got”
(which was penned by Billy Cox). The core
band here is tight and versatile and consists
of bassist/producer Tod Ellsworth,
drummer Brad Ellsworth, guitarist Ivan
Appelrouth, and keyboardist Steve Bassett;
a three-piece horn section augments seven
tracks. Like Etta James, this Ms. James is
no one trick pony.