1999

Right As Rain

On their third Blind Pig outing, local boy Castro and his band mates dig deeper into the Memphis sounds they love, producing their grittiest album. The original material - the slow, horn-heavy "If I Had A Nickel", the seriously funky "My Kind Of Woman" - is sharp as ever, while a handful of guest stars add depth to other tracks. Texas blues shouter Delbert McClinton joins Castro for a scorching duet on "Don't Turn Your Heater Down", and obscure Sam and Dave tune. Dr. John adds his keyboard gris-gris to several tracks, and members of the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church choir bring sweet, sanctified soul to "I Got To Change". The swingin' shuffle "Kickin' In" closes the disc with a stinging Castro solo.

J. Poet