The long awaited CD from Paul Kype and Texas Flood  is truly a “long time comin’.”
 After a tasteful intro which only gives a taste of Kype’s talent on guitar, the cd starts with a roots rock cover of AC DC's “Bad Boy Boogie” — one of several  cool covers including blues standard “ Walking By Myself” and “ You Don’t Love Me.”

Though there are several subtle guitar solos, the CD is not really about the guitar solo as I would have expected from Kype who is a pretty phenomenal guitar picker, but about the songs.

There are many upbeat, catchy originals which show off Kype’s vocals and steady rhythm.
 He has a talented band backing him on CD — the same band who play with him live.Greg Gomola adds extra guitar throughout.

 Earl McAuly‘s keyboards are a highlight throughout the CD especially on  the honky  the barrelhouse boogie “ Hair All Tangled,” which also features some nice slide guitar. The keyboards are usually pretty subtle , though come to the fore on tracks like their cover of “Hair All Tangled”  but help drive the songs. The tender, slower blues “I Can Only Love You” is a highlight.

Kype is at his finest when he picks up the tempo on tracks like “Baby You Ain’t The One, Heed the Call” and Rattle My Chains, to name a few.
He  explores his county side on slower songs like “ Cowgirl,” which feature Ryan “Skinny ” Dyck on steel guitar.
 Craig Erdman and Tyson Maiko both share bass duties a while Jerry Adolph and Brady Valgardson share drum duties.
 there are a lot of highlights including “Heed the Call” and “Rattle My Chains,” which has a catchy , bluesy groove.
They end with a rollicking version of blues classic “Walking By Myself.”

 Lethbridge rock band the Dirti Speshuls have released their huge new debut CD,“ Long Time Coming.”

It is huge sounding in every way from the first chord of the first song “Gotta Go.”

They sound like ’90s rockers Treble Charger jamming with Queens of the Stone Age in an ’80s studio run by Bob Rock. They sound like they stepped right out of the late ’90s while sidestepping the whole grunge craze.

Everything about it is  big— it has a a huge sound, big guitars, big choruses, big everything except the length as it is only eight songs long.

 They are all good though. ‘Gotta Go” Crazy Rocky” and “Come on Kid” all stand out.
they slow down slightly in the middle of the CD but pick up the tempo again onOut on your own, which has more of a modern rock feel.

The three guitarists Rob Cooper, John Brooks and Jon Vornbrock each have their own distinct sounds yet still provide a  big wall of sound. Drummer Dean Wilson and bassist Rick Beres play in the pocket in an unstoppable rhythm and Todd Carter, a veteran of the Lethbridge music scene, has a distinctive voice. The other band members  also harmonize nicely.
 They end on  a high note “Never the Same,” which shows off the guitars and the vocal harmonies.
“Long Time Coming” is a rock solid listen for those who want to move, groove and maybe even dance.

CD: Long Time Coming
Band: the Dirti Speshuls

genre: rock/ alternative rock

Ottawa blues trio MonkeyJunk branch out a little on their Juno nominated  CD “All Frequencies.” The bassless trio play a variety of different  forms of blues which is all good, but they add a little more this time.
 While there is still a lot of catchy blues, powered by Steve Marriner’s fabulous harp and baritone guitar, plus many smoking solos from guitarist Tony D,  they have a lot more soul and even some quirky pop/ reggae sounds along the lines of Sublime on tracks like “Je Nah Say Kwah.”

 The  CD begins on a high note with “ You Make A Mess,” and they keep the energy up from beginning to end.

 That baritone guitar just sticks in your gut and it is always a pleasure to hear Marriner’s mind blowing harp. He also has an appealing voice which sounds like a mix of Kenny Loggins and Richard Marx.

 “Once Had Wings is a slower, more tender, but dark Delta blues style number.

 They shine when they turn things up on the ultimately catchy “ Say What,” with the huge sing along chorus “ All Night Long” and a sizzling guitar solo.
I also love the groove of “Sirens in the Night.”
 The last track “Swank,” is a beautiful organ powered jam that borrows a few bars of the Sanford and Sons TV theme, then allows everyone to play tasteful solos.