Search - Mem Shannon :: Mem Shannon's Second Blues Album

If truth-in-advertising laws applied to the blues category, Mem Shannon would have a tough time defending the title of this CD. On the 11 tracks contained in Second Blues Album, Shannon rarely tackles the blues head-on. But this should come as no surprise to those who paid closer attention to his highly acclaimed debut A Cab Driver's Blues. On that release, Shannon revealed his fondness for funky rhythms and laid-back melodies. And that's what you'll find here, only in a much lower key. Shannon's warm baritone conveys the touching humor of "Old Men" well enough, but it isn't enough to save songs like "One Thin Dime" and "Mirror Mirror," both of which barely show a pulse. More memorable are the uptempo numbers like "Mr. Blues" and the Stevie Wonder-styled "Say That Then." The playing is slick throughout and Shannon's social commentary is still sharp ("Wrong People in Charge," "Charity"), but Mem Shannon spreads his talents far too thin here. --Ken Hohman