Troy Turner - Blues On My Back (1999)

This Louisiana-flavored debut from guitarist and vocalist Troy Turner is highly reminiscent of the work of another Louisiana-blues swamp rocker, Kenny Neal. And no wonder; the two are good friends who've toured together, and Turner has done a lot of axe time with other members of the Neal clan. Yet Turner's got his own style, too, and it's a strong, brash, energetic one, a contemporary blues synergy that brings in rock, funk, and a distinctive Louisiana taste to give a real kick in the pants to songs like "World Without Fear" and "Hide Away." Turner can lay back, too, as he does on "Going Back to Louisiana," a slower song that still moves, very much like a lazy southern river. Turner's also got the sort of rich voice that can handle deep ballads and up-tempo party songs with equal ease--and can go so far as to imitate John Lee Hooker on the album's closing number, the appropriately titled "Mojo Boogie." ~Genevieve Williams