Pass Me Not: Sacred Steel Guitars, Vol. 2
If, as many sacred musicians believe, the blues is "devil's music," who, pray tell, is responsible for the feverish music on this sacred-steel record? Sorry to say, this music isnastyin the most righteous sense of the word. The Campbell Brothers, led by incredible pedal-steel guitarist Chuck and electric guitarist-bassist Phil, play an almost insurgent brand of sacred-steel music--a form with deep ties to the Church of the Living God, Keith Dominion--that adds the urgency of rock, the exploration of jazz, and the grit of the blues to its roots. On his pedal steel, Chuck is capable of otherworldly shouts and wails, melodic beauty, and speedy runs of head-spinning alacrity. The sheer number of distinct tones he coaxes is amazing. And when Katie Jackson delivers her wrought-up and commanding vocals, the intensity is almost too much to bear. Youngest brother Darick trades lap-steel licks with Chuck on three standout cuts and offers an urgent vocal workout on one live tune recorded at their father's church. If this is God's work, imagine what would happen if the devil got a hold of these guys!--Marc Greilsamer