Paul Thorn - Long Way from Tupelo (2008)

Paul Thorn has been pleasing crowds for years with his muscular brand of roots music - bluesy, rocking and thoroughly Southern, yet also speaking universal truths. The Tupelo, Mississippi native took an unexpected detour on the road to recording his latest album. After writing many discs of semi-autobiographical tunes, the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter - hailed as the "Mark Twain of Americana" - decided to do an album of covers. The collection, entitled What The Hell Is Goin' On? finds Thorn putting his own gritty rock stamp on some of his favorite songs. Special guests on the album include Elvin Bishop, Delbert McClinton, and the McCrary Sisters.
The idea for a covers album grew as Thorn encountered tunes that meant something important to him. "I would hear them in the tour van or I'd be at a festival and see someone perform them live," Thorn says, "and I'd say 'That's a great song, I wish I had written it!'" The set covers subjects that are familiar territory to Thorn, from the spiritual pull of Buddy Miller's Shelter Me Lord to the spirited fun in Big Al Anderson's Jukin'. The powerful title track is a blistering look at life in modern times that was penned by blues-rock icon Elvin Bishop.
Of course, the album wouldn’t be the same without Thorn’s touring band. "The guys in this outfit are a tight unit and a well-oiled machine," he proclaims. The sense of camaraderie among Thorn, his band, and producer, Billy Maddox contributes to the disc's loose, live performances. The musical quality of this record is aided by the fact that Thorn and the band had already played these songs live and honed them into what he calls “crowd-pleasers”.
What the Hell is Goin’ On? has already received rave reviews from music critics. Grant Britt from No Depression writes, “It's rare to find an album you can listen to all the way through over and over again.” Blogcritics writer, Wesley Britton, describes the album's sound as “gritty, low-down, sizzling, earthy blues and blues rock.” There's no doubt that the eclectic collection of songs on What the Hell is Goin' On? will keep listeners guessing and grooving from first track to last.