Paul Rishell and
Annie Raines seems to have a bad case of the blues on
Goin' Home, which is good news for the listener. While the album kicks off with two originals, most of the material is drawn from classic blues players like
Charley Patton,
Ma Rainey, and
Blind Lemon Jefferson.
Rishell handles most of the vocals and guitar work, and the arrangements vary from stripped-down acoustic to full-band electric.
Raines, on the other hand, specializes in the blues harp and helps out -- from time to time -- on background vocals. As a team,
Rishell and
Raines are what one might expect if
Roy Book Binder and
Rory Block teamed up. The most exciting work on
Goin' Home is acoustic. There are fine versions of
Jefferson's "Black Horse Blues" and
Rainey's "Black Eye Blues." The latter song is the rare piece sung by
Raines, and it's shameful she's not given more leads on the album. There's also a fun version of the randy Fulton Allen song, "Custard Pie," though the performance here reveals the album's Achilles' heel.
Rishell's a good singer, but his vocals lack the raw authenticity of a singer like
Sonny Terry. While
Goin' Home may be too eclectic for its own good, it's likely that many blues fans will find
Rishell and
Raines' varied approach refreshing. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.