Search - Watermelon Slim & the Workers :: No Paid Holidays

Watermelon Slim & the Workers
No Paid Holidays
Genres: Country, Blues, Folk, Pop

Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
1. Blues For Howard
2. Archetypal Blues No.2
3. Call My Job
4. Dad In the Distance
5. You're the One I Need
6. Bubba's Blues
7. And When I Die
8. Into the Sunset
9. Gearzy's Boogie
10. This Traveling Life
11. Max the Baseball Clown
12. The Bloody Burmese Blues
13. I've Got a Toothache
14. Everybody's Down On Me

CD Details

All Artists: Watermelon Slim & the Workers
Title: No Paid Holidays
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Northern Blues
Original Release Date: 1/1/2008
Re-Release Date: 6/24/2008
Genres: Country, Blues, Folk, Pop
Styles: Contemporary Blues, Electric Blues, Acoustic Blues, Modern Blues, Contemporary Folk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 809509004720

Synopsis

Album Description

Watermelon Slim is a relatively new luminary of the blues, rapidly building a career behind four albums and constant touring. In 2008 Slim was nominated for six awards, a feat matched only by the likes of B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray. Slim has twelve nominations in the last two years, a feat unmatched in the event's 29 years. The highly anticipated follow up to 'The Wheel Man' is entitled 'No Paid Holidays' and features Lee Roy Parnell on slide guitar.

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CD Reviews

True Blues Genius!!

tpsjle | The Midwest, USA | 10/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once again.. Watermelon Slim is a winner.. The guy is a great musical genius.

Love it.

Wonderful mix of modern and traditional and even some whimsy...

I have seen Watermelon Slim twice in person. The guy and his band are amazing performers. Slim's slide guitar and harmonica are incredible.

If you have to do without lunch for a day or two to afford this, DO IT!! You can feast on the blues by Slim and the Workers!!!

"

(3.5 STARS) EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A BLUES ENTHUSISAST, WELL WOR

Colin Spence | Formby, UK | 04/19/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Whilst I like some music that combines blues with other genres, I don't consider myself to be a blues fan. However, these days I am beginning to listen to a lot more blues music, and this album is 'all blues' (I think). Thus, I've written this review from the perspective of someone with more mainstream tastes, but also someone who can still appreciate some of the qualities of blues music.

Bill Homans (Watermelon Slim) sings with a lot of feeling, whether he is belting out high energy rockers or using a more understated style. He has a slight lisp which gives his vocals a little bit of character (but some listeners may find this distracting). One of the most striking things about the music is the electric slide playing which features on many tracks - some of it is astonishing stuff. The supporting musicians (including a tight rhythm section) provide first rate accompaniment; also, there are a few solos from guest players - piano (David Maxwell) on two tracks, and electric slide (Lee Roy Parnell) on one. The overall sound has a fairly raw feel, and I suspect that the album has been recorded 'studio live' - which is just as well, because this type of music rarely benefits from post-recording 'over-polishing'.

The music covers several blues styles - I don't know what these are called but, most certainly, there's a mixture of traditional and contemporary blues. In terms of my own enjoyment, 'No Paid Holidays' is a 'mixed bag' - I'm not keen on a number of songs towards the middle of the album (perhaps, better appreciated by more dedicated blues fans). Those that I like include the up-tempo rockers ('Blues For Howard' and 'Archetypal Blues No.2 - both of which blow me away), or the slower tempo songs with a strong groove ('Dad In the Distance', 'You're The One I Need', 'Bubba's Blues' and 'I've Got a Toothache'); I also like the lyrics on 'Call My Job' (I've been there!).

I'd recommend this album to both fans of blues music, and those (like myself) who haven't quite 'arrived' yet. I can't be as generous with my rating as other reviewers because there are 5 songs that I dislike - but even so, it's good to hear some decent music from an artist who hasn't been 'got at' by the major music corporations; 3.5 stars.

"