.... at least according to the lyrics in 'Successful Son'. Rest assured, while it may have taken a long time for Michael to be discovered, the discovery is worth every minute to the blues fan looking for a new fix. Michael Powers (aka Michael Murchison) is the real deal -- make no mistake. He's got a two packs of Marlboros per day voice, all of the required blues guitar styles covered, and a penchant for writing new blues material that should keep the future of the blues secure for years to come.
'Successful Son' talks about how Michael came by his first guitar, bought by his mom with three books of stamps; green or yellow, Michael doesn't say. And how he practiced and practiced (with some faking of his early moments on the axe), how his mom encouraged him, and where guitar playing took him. It's got the Green Onions / LaGrange broken triplet groove, and features Michael on both acoustic and electric. By the end of the tune, one is cheering for Michael to make it as a bluesman -- and as this CD speaks, he is there.
Tracks 2 and 3 are covers; first Willie Dixon's "Can't Quit You Baby" with the quintessential blues chord pattern, followed by Howlin' Wolf's "Baby's Got a Train", with a latin influence that is a little unexpected -- but it works here. Michael's voice is best featured in this track; it makes you want to hear the stories that he has to tell as he moves from a near whisper to his raspy shout.
Sir Douglas Quintet's "She's About a Mover" is covered in Track 4 and takes one immediately to the '60's, with its distorted organ stabs, punchy rhythm guitar, and girl singers. It's got the grit of that era, but with modern production.
Six of the CD's tracks are written or co-written by Michael and there are some gems in his writing. The first to get special mention is Track 5 - "Shock," an all electric low-down funk/blues groove (where Steve Jordan's drumming comes through most clearly). While Michael howls "Sometimes that music will get you hiiiiighaayer" sends a chill up and down the spine.
"Night in Madrid" is another Latin influenced track; an instrumental featuring Michael on acoustic with some delicious turns and runs. It is a song like this one that really puts this CD in a different class than most blues CDs, which can be too true to their genre.
Another one of Michael's self-written tracks that is sure to become a favorite is "Graffiti." Here, Michael puts on his Hendrix-blues hat and gets down with some smooth double stops, and some ringing open strings that make you swear Jimi has handed his strat Michael and guiding his hands and fingers to coax out those chunky blues. Some cool lyrics here as well, "As soon as I leave, they'll be at the door. I know they will. 'Cause you're like sweet meat to a hungry dog. The smell drives them crazy. But that don't bother me. I trust in you, you trust in me. I put your love on my wall."
The last track, the funk ala James Brown "Shimmy Up" will have you looking for your smooth-soled shoes so you can get down with Michael and slip around on the floor and get a few shouts in as well.
Michael also covers Muddy Waters' "Country Boy," contributing some of Michael's own lyrics that bring the song up to modern times with references to "a brother somewhere in Iraq". The remaining tracks include covers of Leonard Cohen's "Bird on a Wire" where Michael conjures up the spirit of Ray Charles, Vera Hall's "Another Man Done," with some workout of the wah pedal, and finally features a rocking cover of the one hit wonder band Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction."
Breathe a sigh of relief. Meaty blues are here to stay. Michael Powers is the standard bearer.
4.5 tocks
Similar sounding releases
1996Sleepy RayWhere The Highway Turns
1999Cesar RosasSoul Disguise
2005FatigoMenso
2004Elvis CostelloThe Delivery Man
2003Jimmie BratcherSomething Better
1997Ben HarperThe Will To Live
