Hamilton Loomis - Ain't Just Temporary (2007)

This young blues/soulman is already a road-hardened veteran, having released his debut back in 1994. Loomis's second disc for Blind Pig shows that the Texas-bred musician has matured into an experienced songwriter, a compelling vocalist, and a talented multi-instrumentalist, proficient on drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and harmonica. If needed, he plays them all, as on four tracks here. Hardcore blues fans may not approve, but Loomis uses Johnny "Guitar" Watson's late-'70s albums as his template for this slick yet enjoyable and immaculately produced album. Not only is Watson's "Bow Wow" covered in this set dominated by originals, Loomis also nestles into a similar groove between the easy funk, R&B, blues, and pop that defined Watson albums such as A Real Mother for Ya. It's a slinky, sexy, and often sensual style, updated with the occasional drum loop and a sonic sheen that sands off the rough edges without sounding anemic or overly commercial. The Bo Diddley cameo on "You Got to Wait" brings a slow, swampy beat that unwinds leisurely over five minutes and defines the disc's unhurried, sometimes hypnotic vibe. Loomis's boyish tenor vocals, somewhat similar to those of Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook, accentuates the pop element, especially on upbeat rockers like "Where We Started." The lyrics aren't especially enlightening, but they work adequately with songs that wonderfully capture his retro soul in a contemporary format. It's not flashy, but Loomis's savvy sense of restraint and sheer musicality show him to be a gifted auteur whose best work likely lies ahead of him. --Hal Horowitz