February 27, 2005

The appealing blues-rock sound of Tommy Castro is closer to J. Geils than Buddy Guy, but the perennial Bay Area underachiever checks in with his ninth album in 11 years, back with San Francisco's funky blues specialists, Blind Pig Records, scene of his previous greatest triumphs. With saxophonist Keith Crossan giving the sound a touch of E Street Band lite, Castro matches Crossan's squeals with silvery guitar licks that somehow manage to simultaneously sound familiar and fresh. A tireless workhorse who scrupulously navigates his own way through the waters of Southern soul, big city blues and classic rock, Castro has got a winner with "Soul Shaker."

Joel Selvin

Original Review (Offsite Link)