Search - Theodis Ealey :: Raw

Ealey gets back to basics on the aptly titled Raw, after the disappointing R&B-oriented experiment that was Stuck Between Rhythm & Blues. Raw is a satisfying slab of unpretentious electric blues with some nice guitar work. Ealey's not a fantastic vocalist, but he is a good one, and his singing complements his playing nicely, especially on "Walkin' Blues." There are quite a few covers on this album, which Ealey performs with a kind of low-key energy that suits them perfectly: Bob Dylan's "Meet Me in the Morning," Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away," and Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby." "I've Got the Blues" proves that Ealey can write a traditional blues tune, and the folk-like "A Song for My Daughter" is a pleasant surprise. Highly recommended. Genevieve --Williams