Gráinne Duffy, Dirt Road Blues, Blue Heart Records
She’s played Glastonbury, and concerts and major festivals in Europe, Africa, North America and Australia, and performed on stages graced by Keb’ Mo’, Eric Gales and Billy Gibbons. She’s a fine songwriter, a top-notch guitar-slinger and has a rock’n’roll voice drenched with the blues and Southern soul. She’s Gráinne Duffy, now with five excellent albums in her discography, and with Dirt Woman Blues, she is set to win new fans all over the world.
Ireland has given the world some top-notch blues and rock artists to enjoy over the years – think Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore and Van the Man – and in Gráinne Duffy from County Monaghan, we have another one. All her previous releases are all worth your while checking out, and Dirt Woman Blues, is another top-drawer and hugely enjoyable release.
The album was on the Grammy awards ballot in two categories: the album itself in Contemporary Blues Album and the title track, Dirt Woman Blues in the American Roots Song section. It ought to have been being nominated, but its consideration speaks volumes.
Recorded in Southern California with Marc Ford (Black Crowes) and Chris Goldsmith producing, we get nine original songs written by Duffy and her husband Paul Sherry, who contributes to the outstanding guitar work throughout the album. With Gráinne, Paul and Marc Ford trading licks, the album is a sumptuous treat for guitar fans, and the hugely experienced rhythm section of Elijah Ford on bass and keys and JJ Johnson on drums make for a very solid band.
The songs are varied, firmly in the blues-rock category, but, particularly with Duffy’s powerful and versatile vocals, very, very soulful.
The title track is a slow-burner that takes you deep into Southern blues territory. The interchange between the guitar work and Duffy’s stirring vocals just reaches deep inside you and pulls at every emotion.
Running Back to You sounds like an old soul classic and Duffy’s expressive vocal’s more than do it justice. With Sweet Liberation we’re firmly in Rolling Stones territory and it doesn’t take much imagination to hear Mick and Keef covering this one – not that they’d do it any better than Gráinne and her band. Hugely enjoyable.
Hold On to You is another slow and emotive number, that just builds and builds, aided by jazz pianist with Peter Levin. If you like your blues-rock hard and driving, then Yes I Am is for you. Yet the song is more sophisticated than that sounds – the song drives, then pulls back, drives again, and the musicianship is top-notch throughout. Check out J J Johnson’s outstanding drum work on this one.
The album closes with a much more acoustic, Americana number, Killycrum. Killycrum is Duffy’s home in County Monaghan, Ireland. It’s just a great song.
The nine-song Dirt Woman Blues sees Gráinne Duffy at the top of her game and surely establishes her as one of the best artists in the contemporary blues and roots scene.
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