All in the Family.
2009 is starting off with a bang—thanks to a blues-rock epic from The Derek Trucks Band called Already Free. It’s the seventh album for Trucks who does double duty as guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band and recently toured with Eric Clapton. He’s never sounded more focused and determined to solidify his place in the blues-rock legacy he has been part of since he was ten years old.
Establishing a “Basement Tapes” vibe in his newly built home studio, the album kicks off with Dylan and The Band’s “Down in the Flood.” Acoustic slide guitar gives way to a stomping, swamp-rock, barn burner. Mike Mattison’s soulful vocals perfectly compliment Trucks’ slashing guitar and their songwriting partnership has kicked up a notch on juke joint workouts “Don’t Miss Me“ and “Down Don’t Bother Me.” Guitarist/producer Doyle Bramhall II’s weathered vocals adorn two songs and his collaboration with the band reaches a fever pitch on the smokin’ blues rocker “Get What You Deserve.” Trucks’ wife, Susan Tedeschi sings background on the soul standard “Sweet Inspiration” and lead on the love ballad “Back Where I Started”. Given the amount of time they spend away from each other and apart from their two young kids, the familial joy of being home is palpable.
Each song is honed down to it’s essence (none longer than a little over five minutes) and the jam band noodling of past efforts is relegated to a few well placed raga accompaniments. This is an album that can take its place beside classics by The Allmans, Clapton and The Band. As the faux needle-in-the-groove ends the album’s closing song, the refrain “I am my father’s child…” reverberates and drives home the message of this, one of the first great albums of the new year.
Listen for songs from the album Already Free by The Derek Trucks Band all this week on Paul Shugrue’s new music show “Out of the Box” on Hampton Roads public radio 89.5 WHRV Mon. through Thurs. from 7 to 9 p.m., Sat. afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. and on-demand at www.whrv.org/outofthebox.