Smokin' Joe Kubek is a powerful and often quite intense guitarist who creates a wide variety of unusual sounds and makes expert use of distortion on the rockish side of the blues. He has long teamed up with the passionate yet laid-back vocalist
Bnois King (who also plays rhythm guitar) and the combination works well; the two musicians often sound as if they are the same person. Most of the selections on this CD (their sixth for Bullseye in seven years) are played by their basic two-guitar quartet with extra percussion and two background vocalists added to a pair of songs apiece, along with guest appearances by
Jimmy Thackery and
Little Milton. Fans of
Stevie Ray Vaughan and blues guitarists who are touched by
Jimi Hendrix will want this enjoyable set. ~ Scott Yanow