Gator Groove Records artist: Chris Watson Band - Pleasure and Pain - New Release Review

Gator Groove Records artist Chris Watson has just released a new recording called Pleasure and Pain. This is definitely one to check out! Chris released his first recording in 2010 at 18 and this followup recording is killer. This recording features 9 original tracks of the 12 on the release. It opens with Heart On My Sleeve, a funky blues with very tight drums by Jason Thomas and bass by Chris Gipson under the smooth flare of Watson's guitar and vocals. Untrue, a Texas style blues gets the shuffle going and all though the rhythm sounds familiar, the riffs are fresh and clean. The title track, Pleasure and Pain, is a modern sounding track more along the lines of Robert Cray but finding Watson playing heavy rhythm along with his singing. His fat guitar tone on the solo of this track is particularly cool. Heartache is a really nice soul style blues. Watson highlights his vocals with horns and provides a great hole to smoke the guitar strings. Mama Told Me has a more modern style uptempo rhythm to it and again Watson gets great tone as he demonstrates his guitar prowess. Traditional song Going Home is given a funky treatment and Watson takes the opportunity to show again that he really is a great singer and on this track backed with some solid background singers giving the track a lot of authenticity. Although the track would have been fine without a single note of soloing (it's that good), Watson takes the opportunity to lay down some really tasty riffs. Happiest Day Of My Life takes a country style boot stomper approach. There is a particularly cool piano interlude by Eric Scortia on this track. On Sean Costello's Hard Luck Woman Watson lays some more funk on the blues and it's really great. Jason Thomas lays some particularly strong drumming on this track. She's Wild is another soulful blues track and I keep thinking that this band is tight. This track has a laid back, almost Al Green nature to it. Watson does a nice cover of Bobby Womack's Check It Out. If this cd doesn't get you up moving around then there's a good likelihood you're losing your hearing. if you're thinking, I just want the guitar solo... it's here too. Wanted Man has a smooth groove to it. Watson lays it out there on guitar again and really shows it with taste. Don't Turn Around completes the recording with an uptempo rocker. This track gives Watson the chance to explore some different riffs and to wind the cd down properly. Overall I'd say this is one of the better cd's I've had the opportunity to review recently. The kid has a lot of talent including guitar playing, vocals, writing and knowing how to put it together. If you get the chance...this is one you should hear!
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 This is not the best track on the cd but the only live cut from the cd I could find for promo.