Telarc
2004
The Hard Way
About This Album
Tinsley Ellis' second outing for the TelArc label builds heartily on the fiery blues-rock of 2002's Hell or High Water by adding a mere soupçon of spooky rhythm and blues to his stealthy mix. Self-produced with engineering by the one and only Jim "Z" Zumpano, Ellis uses his core band of rhythm guitarist Oliver Wood, organist Kevin McKendree, bassist the Evil One, and drummer Richard Hayward from Little Feat. Ellis' moody scorch-and-torch blues, like labelmate Ronnie Earl's spiritual blues wail, are two distinguishing voices on a scene that is rife with cookie-cutter clichés and unimaginative song styles. The Hard Way is drenched in Southern soul and spooky, minor key blues; they blend perfectly adding depth, dynamic, and tension to a slate of songs that offers a rounded view of Ellis at this point in his career. What sets Hard Way and its 2002 predecessor apart from other blues records on the market is Ellis' restless approach to his craft. He is not content to rest on his laurels, or to merely stick knee-deep in the glorious mud of a blues style he created. He relentlessly tries to extend its scope and range. On Hard Way, he succeeds in spades and raises his own high-water mark.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9)

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