"Blues, Chicago style..." is the billing of Glenn Kaiser's new solo album. Kaiser, long-time member of Jesus People USA and founder of REZ, has been very involved in taking Christian music into the blues realm over the last few years. He was a part of the Larry Howard's Cornerstone Blues Jam album and teamed up with Darrell Mansfield for two acoustic blues projects. For the electric blues of Spontaneous Combustion, he gathered some "real Chicago guys who knew the vibe and were willing to pound it out pure and simple... we hit the switch and came out jammin'."
The project covers the range of electric blues styles-twelve-bar slow blues, rougher, club blues, shuffles, boogies, and some really grooving pieces. Kaiser's rough voice is a natural for blues and his strongly emotional vocals help bring the tunes alive. He does know when to bail out, and just let some extended jams continue. Two tracks are impressive instrumentals.
With a blues album you would expect some of the subject matter to reflect sadness and, well, the blues. Kaiser offers some of that on "Everybody Sings the Blues" and "Ain't Much Difference." But the album doesn't stay on the down side. Several songs talk about human love and commitment. "Queen of My Heart" offers "You and me followin' the Savior from the start/He's the King of my life, oh and you are the queen of my heart." "Queen Bee" contains the lines "She blesses me so that I just can't stand it/I know that I don't deserve/This woman called wife is the love of my life/Love that God'll preserve."
If you know anything about Kaiser, you know the album centers on his relationship with the Lord. Statements like "Lord, you took me outa trouble" ("Trouble"), "...But God ain't failed me yet/He's my Savior, my Deliverer/I'm just as saved as you can get" ("If I Leave This World Tomorrow"), "Where would I live; outside your forgiveness/Without the risen Son" ("Where Would I Be?"), and "God of mercy/You brought me safely through the night" ("Through the Night") show his devotion to God.
I was impressed by how fresh the album has stayed to me. With so many styles represented, Spontaneous Combustion has been easy to listen to again and again.
Other coverage for this album
Syndicate Aug 1994Reviewed by Steven L. RothIt's quite obvious and volatile at the same time. Take the city of Chicago, complete with that definitive blues vibe at the core of its very heart, and add the emotional rasp of Glenn Kaiser, a man who's no stranger to those streets. Plug them both in and you're guaranteed to get Spontaneous Combustion—real life urban blues. Setting aside the acoustic guitar from his last two blues-oriented…Heaven's Metal #48Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt"Everybody understands the blues," croons Glenn on the opening cut of Spontaneous Combustion. This "music for the common man," which is the bedrock foundation for hard rock 'n' roll, will almost always sound good to these ears. Glenn goes after the authentic Chicago ('n' New Orleans & Delta too) blues style here - complete with horns and some guest Gospel singers. Unlike his two Trimmed And…Similar sounding releases
1994Sleepy RayUnder the Mighty Blood
1994Larry HowardBright Side of the Blues
1998Dale ThompsonTestimony
1998Darrell MansfieldLast Chance Boogie
1994Craig EricksonRetro Blues Express
2002Liberation SuiteFight For the LightMore from Glenn Kaiser
2002No Greater Love
1990Trimmed and Burnin'
1997Throw Down Your Crowns
1999Blues Heaven: The Best of Glenn Kaiser's Blues
1999Time Will Tell
2002Ripley County Blues
