Corey Lueck, The Smoke Wagon Blues Band - It Ain't Easy (2012)

The brand new Corey Lueck and The Smoke Wagon Blues Band 2012 LP, It Ain’t Easy, features new blues from Canadian blues musicians Gord Aeichele, Nick Succi, Jesse O’Brien, Robin Banks, and Steve Sherman.

The band originated in 1997 and have been performing in clubs and on festival stages across Southern Ontario. Three Independent CD releases, international radio play and a large, local fan base led the band to release their first National album in 2006, titled The Smoke Wagon Blues Band and Friends.

With 15 tracks and over 60 minutes of content, It Ain’t Easy is one good deal. The groups single, “Josephine,” certainly is the LP’s hit with its fast moving beat depicting the hardships of the 1893 Great Canadian Gold Rush. It has competition from “It Ain’t Easy” and its slow moving beat. Both songs balance each other out creating an enjoyable experience. The LP unevenly boasts the vocals of its male performers with the female talent only lending their voices to “That Voodoo” and “Where Did I Go Wrong.” Songs such as “Drink By The Sink” feature raspy vocals that may be difficult for some listeners to understand. The melody of tracks including “Hold On To You,” “Tongue Tied,” and “Hen House Hopping” help create a calm and relaxing atmosphere.