Search - Little Freddie King :: Messin' Around Tha House

Sweet-toned, sharp-edged blues

John Sinclair | Nashville, TN United States | 06/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though Little Freddie King may not be a household name quite yet, his self-styled "Gut Bucket Blues" approach is well worth a listen for any of those who like rough but precise vocals, warm blues harp, and fat, incisive guitar.



King's style is a rough fusion of T-Bone Walker's sharp attack and Albert King's laid-back, smoky stylings: economical, precise, and thick, tending to simmer but never boil. His rented-mule vocals, likewise, do capably in the pepper-and-vinegar of his mostly self-penned album. Bobby DiTullio adds reliable harmonica, while the backing band keep a likeably primitive rhythm on low heat.



Though his best turns come on old-school cuts like "The Things I Used to Do" and "Washerteria Woman," his sound proves equally adept for rap-styled remixes like "Sad Sad News" and the title track. "Kinghead Shuffle" is reminiscent of Little Freddie's more formidable namesake, Freddie King. Sweet, simple, and consistently listenable, 'Messin' Around Tha House' provides the daily bread for bluesmen everywhere.



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