Search - Mason Ruffner :: You Can't Win

Great guitar player-great songs

todd d. schappaugh | burlington,iowa | 07/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"mason is back and better than ever.this cd shows mason in a new light he's added horns to his mix.the songs are great his playing is great and his band really cooks behind him. a must cd for fans of roadhouse style music."

GOOD SOLID BLUES CD

HANS D HARMS | runaway bay, QLD Australia | 09/10/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Does not tread any new ground, but retreads with the best of them. Not one weak track and some choice guitar playing. This man has obviously paid his dues and writes and sings from experience. If you like the blues somewhere between traditional and electric, your are sure to like this."

Down Home Electric Blues + Horns

Donnie The B | USA | 05/23/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I happened across Mason Ruffner's debut album when it was new - some point in the late 1980's. I was thrilled by this new bluesman. He sang "Laissez Le Bon Temps Roulez" partly in a true Cajun dialect. Production and sound were top-notch. Still have the vinyl (Epic?) in good shape, but I would certainly augment that with a new CD for the car, if they would reissue.



Other than that first release, I suspect this is the best Mason Ruffner album to own, if you're just going to invest in one. The addition of horns here adds an R&B (Stax) dimension to his sound that is quite entertaining. One thing that makes "You Can't Win" enjoyable is that it does not sound homogenous, cut to cut. There are some thankful variations in style & arrangements, even though the tunes are mostly 3 chord blues-based. We're lucky to have access to a release on the small Burnside label out of Oregon, especially a 1999 release that's now 9 years old.



It's only Mason's vocals that make me give this 4 stars vs. 5. His style/sound gets a little bit old. But there is 53 minutes of good rockin' rhythm & blues here though. If you haven't heard Mason Ruffner, give him a chance. If you appreciate rockin' blues bands, Stevie Ray Vaughan, et al., you'll be glad you did."