Old school bluesman David Bromberg has put it down once again. Following up his 2007 Grammy-nominated Try Me One More Time, Bromberg's upcoming Appleseed release Use Me revisits his foolproof Americana sound with participation from some interesting musical guests, including Widespread Panic, Vince Gill, and Los Lobos. He took a unique approach to this record, tapping select singer-songwriters and musicians to fashion or choose songs tailormade for his roots style.
Use Me opens with the cheeky "Tongue," the only Bromberg original track on the CD, with Levon Helm on skins, followed by a series of catchy tunes that dip into the Delta as well as the Bayou. Not only do the simmering songs deal with personal situations, but social issues. "Diggin' in the Deep Blue Sea," a Keb' Mo' and Gary Nicholson collab based on Larry Davis' "Texas Flood," addresses the detriments of offshore drilling and has a deep blues feel. "You Don't Wanna Make Me Mad" is a funky concoction of jaunty piano, sinewy guitar rhythms and salty lyrics, with the good doctor himself, Dr. John, on piano. Soft-rock/country-rock queen Linda Ronstadt makes a signature appearance on a rich-as-buttermilk folksy rendition of Brook Benton's classic ballad "It's Just a Matter of Time," with Ronstadt backing up David with her honeyed vocals. He takes on Bill Wither's "Use Me" with the assurance of a tithed minister on Sunday morning, his voice traveling to wonderful peaks and valleys. All eleven tracks are a delightful romp through familiar terrain for David, terrain that he navigates with the expertise and energy of a Formula 500 driver.
A sign that he's fully emerging from that 17 year recording hiatus, this second Appleseed release perfectly showcases David's off-kilter, sandpaper-silk voice, his amazing skill on various stringed instruments, from violin to banjo, and his overall bluesy, jug band flavor. This thoughtful collection of homespun songs will be released on July 12, 2011, with a national tour to follow.
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