Search - Rory Block :: Last Fair Deal

Last Fair Deal
Rory Block
Last Fair Deal
Genres: Blues, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

A veteran blueswoman, Rory Block proves herself both a traditionalist and an explorer through this selection of blues classics, spiritual standards, and original material with a kindred spirit. She pays homage to her music...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Rory Block
Title: Last Fair Deal
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Telarc
Release Date: 9/23/2003
Genres: Blues, Pop
Styles: Contemporary Blues, Acoustic Blues, Modern Blues, Slide Guitar
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 089408359323

Synopsis

Amazon.com
A veteran blueswoman, Rory Block proves herself both a traditionalist and an explorer through this selection of blues classics, spiritual standards, and original material with a kindred spirit. She pays homage to her musical roots with impeccable renditions of songs associated with her late mentor Son House ("County Farm Blues") and his prize pupil Robert Johnson ("Last Fair Deal Gone Down," "Traveling Riverside Blues"). Yet she takes considerable liberties with the album's instrumental centerpiece, an all but unrecognizable version of the familiar "Amazing Grace," which here recalls Leo Kottke's aural adventurousness rather than the hymnal. The original "Declare" (inspired by the Bible's Book of Job) and the traditional "Hallelu, Hallelu" both find Block multi-tracking her vocals into the call-and-response of a full gospel choir, while "Cry Out Loud" and "Mama's Stray Baby" reflect the folkier strains of her artistry. An acoustic guitarist with a stinging slide and an understated virtuosity, she's more concerned with deep grooves than hot licks. --Don McLeese

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CD Reviews

A fine, mellow set by this talented blues picker
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 10/14/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)

"An airy, loose acoustic blues set, with plenty of gentle slide guitar, and a hefty dose of straightforward preachin' gospel blues.  Some surprises, like an ethereal instrumental version of "Amazing Grace," and her spacy, stream-of-conscousness delivery throughout.  At times Block sounds a bit mannered and stuffy, in a folkie kinda way, yet the mix of relaxed, informal presentation and an overall evocative, spine-tingly feel make this record worth checking out.... Her fans will certainly dig it!"
Rory, doing what she does best
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | 12/04/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rory Block is one of today's artists out at the forefront of keeping acoustic blues alive. This CD has a lot of Rory doing what she does best: gritty blues and acoustic slide guitar.The best songs are the one Son House and two Robert Johnson covers, Sookie Sookie, Look What The Lord Has Done. A couple of the songs are a little sappy, the one about the stray dog, for example.A little restrained; Rory can really cut loose when she wants to. But excellent singing and playing throughout."
Unique, overlooked and underrated
Derek Fuller | All beef Jerky, NM | 05/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Rory's for 20 years or so. This collection of artistry is the only example of something that makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Her love of music, her love of the guitar, her love of singing has never been more pronounced than in this work. Although an outspoken champion of women's rights, I think when it comes to her guitar, Rory would agree that "she love slappin'that bitch silly, and da bitch like it". Hell, I like it. After years of string bending, she finally puts on the silver finger and gives it all she's got. Way to go, Rory."