Local blues rock duo Smoke Stack Jacks have just released their long awaited self titled full length CD on Lethbridge record label Ghostwood Records.
Most of last year’s  EP has been reworked for the new CD including Smoke Stack Jacks, which has been  retitled ‘The Shakedown.’
The CD is crisply recorded, cleaning up drummer Geoff McDonald and guitarist Dave Bullied’s dirty, raunchy, blues/rock sound while not detracting from their garage roots.
The two are locked in together as if they were linked telepathically. And you can hear a definite Jon Spencer Blues Explosion influence. It isn’t blues in the traditional sense, but blues played from a different, more grungy place, perhaps another planet.
Thanks to improved production qualities, you can actually hear some of Bullied’s deadly slide guitar and megaphone vocals this time, which aren’t quite as distorted. I like Bullied’s slide guitar on the closing track, ‘Fat Ass,’ which is another one with a touch of rockabilly and is reminiscent of blues classic ‘Who Do You Love?’
‘Whiskey’ is a highlight and they even have a demented birthday song. So is the subtle slide work on ‘Devil Girl.’
‘Turn it Around’ is one of my favourite Smokestack Jacks’ tracks performed live and it translates well here in a crisper and cleaner recording.
 I also really like the demented rockabilly  feel of ‘Riverboat.’
Smokestack Jacks’ debut CD  is loud, raunchy and a lot of fun.

CD: Smokestack Jacks
Band: Smokestack Jacks
Genre: Blues blues rock
Record company: Ghostwood Records

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