Search - Groundhogs :: Scratching the Surface

Raw British Blues

Fred Rayworth | Las Vegas, NV United States | 11/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I always tend to compare anything the Groundhogs do to their Who Will Save The World album and for this early release, the similarities are very vague. This is pure blues. There are a few odd timings here and there to add unique twists to the usual 12 bar structure and for the first time ever, I heard a different vocalist on a Groundhogs song in Steve Rye on two of the cuts. Over the years, Tony McPhee has not strayed too far from his roots despite stretching into more progressive music. I see this is the first in a progression from pure blues to rocking blues to rock and then back to blues again in later releases.



I really like this album. I've always had a fondness for the old white blues players like John Mayall and Canned Heat. This is right there with them. Tony's voice is unique, there is nobody else out there like him, and that is a big plus.



If you are looking for the roots of British Blues, this is a great start. Highly recommended.

"