REVIEW: Jake Andrews, Time to Burn (Jericho/Cello/Sire)
- Jon Steltenpohl
Young blues prodigys seem to be a dime a dozen these days. Everywhere you look, little kids are fronting bands in bars where they won't be legal for years. At 18, Jake Andrews is still 3 years away, but at least he's the first of his generation to be able to vote. He's also one of the first to release an album which catapults him to the forefront of the blues world.
It's not so much that Andrews covers any new ground with Time to Burn. After all, a guitar player fronting a bass and drum rhythm section is hardly anything new. But, 3-piece blues done right is heaven, and if the front man is an incredible axe man, it's almost nirvana. And even at his young age, Jake Andrews is as close as anyone out there right now.
Time to Burn starts with the booming chords of the title track, the bass filling in the groove, and the drum kicking off the beat. It's high octane rock and blues. Strains of Eric Clapton come through on it and a few other tracks. "The Hard Way" features Andrews out-Clapton-ing Clapton with a lonesome, ringing guitar with a backdrop of real choruses and verses.
When an organ player sits in on "It All Passed Me By," there's a little feel of The Black Crowes without the Crowes penchant for cheese. Rhythmic tracks like "The Hard Way" remind the listener of the "R" in R&B, and Andrews even takes a shot at swing blues with the saxophone laden "The Hard Way." And of coarse, there's classic Austin guitar blues played the hard way on "call and response" scorchers like "Drivin' Wheel," "Cry Baby" and "Too Sorry."
While Stevie Ray Vaughan's name gets brought up in any discussion involving Texas blues guitar, Andrews is more like Stevie's brother, Jimmy. His great songwriting stands out in front with the incredible licks being just part of his arsenal. Time to Burn exposes a young man who fills out the classic 3 piece electric blues band but can also add keyboards or horns when the occassion calls for it.
Part of the choice sound must be credited to veteran producer John Porter. While most alternative music fans know Porter as the masterful producer of The Smiths, his true legacy has been the blues. His work at the boards covers everyone from B.B. King to Taj Mahal, and his endorsement of Andrews lets any serious blues fan know instantly the kind talent we're dealing with.
Jake Andrews has blues in his blood. His sense of blues guitar comes naturally and effortlessly. The sound is big and bold, yet it carefully avoids egotism and allows the songs to find their balance. It's an album for dyed in the wool blues fans, and those who've never gone beyond a few Clapton and Thoroughgood albums. It's easy to forget that this kid is just 18. Time to Burn is simply a great album.
