Average User Rating: 80% (29 Reviews)
5 / 5	The real low-down blues re-invented for the 21st Century Talentless Joe (London, UK) - 17 November 2006 Seasick Steve is the best, and, in a lot ways, the most authentic bluesman currently operating. Apparently he spent many years hoboing and hopping freights in the 1960s, and then started playing with many of the blues greats, including Son House, John Lee Hooker and Lightnin' Hopkins. He then re-emerged as part of the grunge scene in the '90s, producing and playing with Modest Mouse, Calvin Johnson and Bikini Kill amongst many others. Pretty amazing life story, huh?! Now he's back playing the blues. His first album, Cheap was recorded with the excellent Level Devils. Now he's solo and it's still mighty soulful, gutbucket stuff, with a punky attack on the lot of the numbers (My Donny,Yellow Dog), but also some pretty profound delicacy on other tracks (Salem Blues, Shirly Lou, I'm Gone). His live gigs are joyously fervent affairs akin to a revivalist prayer meeting, but without all the god-nonsense. Buy this album and attend one of the Rev. Steve's preaching sessions.... Read Full Review »
5 / 5	Who said white men can't sing the blues? M. Hamer (Tamworth, Staffs) - 5 February 2007 I too caught Seasick Steve on Jools Holland's Hootenanny, and couldn't believe what I was hearing. Steve Wold (real name), out playing every other artist there, with his three string guitar. When I found out his CD was out, I bought it straight away. If you didn't know any better, you'd believe you were listening to an old Sonhouse album or early John Lee Hooker. You can just imagine Steve recording this album in one take, sitting there in a room with nothing but a beat up guitar, and a bottle of Bourban. If you're a true fan of Delta Blues you will love this album. Its raw, refreshing, and as authentic as Mississippi mud. You can only do yourself a massive favour by adding this to your CD collection. Buy it now! ... Read Full Review »
5 / 5	Outstanding C. Simpson "Chris" (UK) - 9 June 2007 As per many other reviews I first saw Steve on Jools Holland's New Year show, I bought both of his albums on the basis of his performance and have not been disappointed. Currently both of these records occupy the most listened to place within my album collection and if you have even a passing interest in the blues I strongly recommend that you take the plunge. I will certainly endeavour to see him live, an experience which I am sure will be even better than that of the CD. As other commentators have testified what a refreshing change to hear raw, emotive talent at its very best.... Read Full Review »
5 / 5	Three string Wonder jbezzo "jbezzo" (Cumbria) - 16 May 2007 If Seasick Steve didn't exist you couldn't make him up. He's a walking cliche of everything you expect a bluesman to be; a hard-travelin', rail-ridin' hobo who produces blues as raw as a quart of Mississippi moonshine. Dog House Music is proof that the blues can be stripped to it's barest form yet retain every ounce of it's feeling. Even more remarkable is that Steve's stories are told with only the stomping of his foot on a metal box AKA the Mussissippi Drum Machine, and an electric three string guitar. His playing reaches back to the dawn of the blues and the hynotic, droning guitar style pays tribute to John lee Hooker, Son House, RL Burnside, Junior Kimborough and even Blind Willie Johnson, who set the Lord's Word to the Devil's music. Buy this album, you'll not regret it.... Read Full Review »
5 / 5	Oh C'mon M. J. Brooke "Mikey B" (England) - 29 August 2007 I feel that I have to challenge Arthur Dooley comments about Seasick Steve. They are at best confused: "the blues is the blues. Whether it's chunkered out fast or howled out slow.It's attraction is in its simplicity." Is his fair introduction; he then goes on to criticise: "a collection of instruments which includes a one string gizmo which sounds like something a bored child might twang to annoy his parents" So is this not simple? />"Sounding like it was recorded in a garage" again, I would argue that is pretty simple. "the album just tumbles along with Steve mumbling intros and outros as he sees fit" - no this bit is not simple and those rambling intros and outros say something about a life that has made this guy sing as he does. To say he says these as he sees fit when he is talking about what would be called in todays society physical abuse is a bit rich! "I guarantee,after a few plays it will find itself filed under your 'left field - should like' catagory with your Tibetan folk music, Peruvian pan pipes and African box guitar albums" Funny how I don't have a section like that I have taste for music i do like and not what I should like, perhaps thats where he is going wrong. To contextualise my defence of seasick steve I have concreted my knowledge of his work by meeting him at this years Readng Festival he did an acousitc backstage set which was superb and then blew away a packed carling tent later that evening. I met the guy and his humility is genuine and absorbing, he gave me a hug because he saw me at both gigs. I was brought up listening to proper blues and clearly me and the other "Amazonian champions !" seem to disagree with Arthurs comments - enjoy your pan pipes! ... Read Full Review »