Rev Jimmie Bratcher - New Old Stuff: Hymns And Gospel Songs
STYLE: Blues RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 167911-26317 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
As with his 'This Is Blues Country' release earlier this year, Kansas City bluesman Jimmie Bratcher has once again shown his skill at adapting established and revered classics and making them his own on this collection of bluesified hymns and gospel songs. A stripped back rockabilly version of the old spiritual "Here I Am Lord Send Me" paves the way for old chestnuts such as "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" and "I Need Thee Every Hour" to get the Bratcher treatment and, opting for a more acoustic approach for the most part, the man they call the Electric Rev turns in yet another stunning turn both instrumentally and vocally. The sparse approach works especially well on a poignant reading of "How I Love Jesus" whilst an incredibly heartfelt dobro-only version of "God Bless America" allows Bratcher to highlight the real faith-based and devotional meaning behind a song that is often wrongly used on national podiums as a brash statement of America's claim to superiority. Bratcher even dips into his early back catalogue with laid back acoustic versions of originals such as "Doctor Doctor" and "Bad Religion" which round off another inventive and satisfying release from the good Reverend.
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