Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band - Bang That Bell (2000)

Taylor continues to change with each new album, and Bang That Bell continues the forward look of 1997's Dirty Pool. Taylor is undoubtedly blues-oriented, but his music is also fueled by bursts of jazz, R&B, funk, and distorted wah-wah-inflected rock. While this will be off-putting to most blues diehards, Taylor forges his own path, and the result is an album with strong blues ties that doesn't fall into one comfortable roots bag or another. A strong effort, albeit one not suited to every blues fan's taste.