Feel Like Doin' Something Wrong
Some folks, including blues journalists and musicians, don't care for the sound of Davis's knife handle on guitar strings, while others hear his astringent tuning as something singular, suspenseful, and wondrous. Combining his sure-fingered guitar work with one of the most expressive voices in blues, this longtime Delta juke joint performer essays nine originals and interprets five cover songs in a compelling manner that points out the depth and solidity of his feeling. Most of the numbers, like "She's Got the Devil in Her" and "Baby, I Love You So," are Davis solo performances--his main concern is love gone wrong. Also present are three tunes showcasing the Mississippian with New York-based sidemen. R.L. Burnside, another estimable modern-day Sunflower State blues guitarist, contributes to the dark felicity of a rendition of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen." Produced by the late writer-historian Robert Palmer, this is an album perfect for the 4 a.m. of your soul. --Frank-John Hadley