Bringing a not entirely new meaning to the term ‘stripped back, Citizen Jones is just two musicians – Daniel Jones on guitar, and Tim Douthit on harmonica. The band claim to bring, quote, ‘fresh power to the old-school front porch country blues’. Singing mostly original songs, with occasional classics in their live set so the folks can sing right along.
The pin their ‘old school’ credentials firmly front and centre, by opening up the album with a song called Early In the Morning, which actually does star proceedings with that classic opening line “Woke up this mornin’ ….”, sung in a voice absolutely drenched in the sort of guttural howling that porch blues types have been using since the days when the blues first commenced as a genuine art form articulating the less-than-ecstatic human condition. The clinical sparseness of the sounds of three inputs, voice, guitar, and harmonica, drives home the emotional impact of the material.
They should call their next album The Real Deal – it would be entirely fitting
Track Three, Downtown Hood Liquor Store paints a perfect picture of a rural place of solace when the going gets just a little too tough. Wllie Dixon’s Spoonful is as faithfully recreated as is probably possible, bringing this stone classic right up to date, and losing none of the gritty authenticity in the process. The following original, Henhouse’ features some beautifully delicate acoustic picking, and keen-to-keep-up harmonica figures as embellishment.
Another classic cover is the Hank Williams gem I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, with Mr Jones echoing perfectly the nasal tones and desperate tragedy of the country legend. But it’s the fact that the duo’s original offerings absolutely stand up with the high standards of the classics of the style sprinkled across the album. There is obviously a deep love for traditional blues powering this album, and it’s a worthwhile addition to the collections of blues fans who love their blues as authentic as you can get.
They should call their next album The Real Deal – it would be entirely fitting.
ANDY HUGHES
