Blues
It's easy to come away of two minds about Treat Me Right. On the one hand, there's no question that guitarist Eric Sardinas has talent; one listen to "Give Me Love" will assure one of that. On the other hand, songs like "Cherry Bomb" and the title track give the impression that he's trying too hard. That's a shame, because the best material on this album is the stuff with that relaxed-yet-energetic feel that is so essential to good roadhouse blues. When Sardinas lays back and lets the music speak for itself, as on "Get Along Rider" and "Goin' to the River," the result is a good, solid, blues-rock effort. Unfortunately this tends to be overwhelmed by a cover of "I Can't Be Satisfied" that is neither loyal to the original nor a particularly exceptional reinterpretation of it, and guest appearances by Hubert Sumlin and Johnny Winter, while of interest, aren't enough to overcome the flaws here. It'll be interesting to see how Sardinas develops as a guitarist, but overall Treat Me Right leaves a very mixed impression indeed.
By Genevieve Williams. AMG.
**
If you buy into all the hype and the look, then all your standard journalistic clichés about "a man playing like he was possessed" would certainly seem to apply in the case of this record. Eric Sardinas has only one groove, and that's the one with the pedal put firmly to the metal. Playing electric Dobro gives his sound a raw, distorted edge right down to the wah-wah pedal that flirts with comparisons to George Thorogood and other ham-fisted slide rockers (he plays unamplified on his originals "Cherry Bomb," "Goin' to the River," and "Sweetwater Blues"), although Sardinas is a considerably more able player than Thorogood. Comparisons with Johnny Winter would also not be unfounded; he makes a guest appearance here on vocal and guitar on his "Tired of Tryin'." Hubert Sumlin is also brought aboard to reprise his original rhythm part of "Down in the Bottom," although he's totally swamped in the mix by Sardinas' over the top bombast, both vocally and instrumentally. Fans of the Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, and George Thorogood style of blues-rock will want to add this one to the collection.
By Cub Koda.
**
Eric Sardinas- (Vocals, Guitar, Dobro);
Johnny Winter- (Vocals, Guitar);
Hubert Sumlin- (Guitar);
Paul Loranger- (Acoustic & Electric Bass);
Scott Palacios- (Drums, Percussion).
**
01. Treat Me Right 4:15
02. Write Me A Few Lines 4:48
03. Murdering Blues 5:21
04. Cherry Bomb 3:30
05. My Baby's Got Something 2:47
06. Give Me Love 3:43
07. Rollin' And Tumblin' 3:04
08. Low Down Love 7:12
09. Get Along Rider 5:18
10. Goin' To The River 6:15
11. I Can't Be Satisfied 4:05
12. Sweetwater Blues 3:03
13. Down In The Bottom 4:12
14. Tired of Tryin' 4:33
**
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