It’s been too damned long since we talked about some good ol’ deep blues here on ninebullets. I vow to make up for that in the coming weeks, and there ain’t a better band to starting making amends with than Kansas’ Moreland & Arbuckle. Moreland & Arbuckle come to the stage with all the right toys; slides, harmonicas & cigar box guitars, but your outfit don’t mean shit if you ain’t got that feel. You know that feel I’m talking about. I don’t know how to put it into words, but it’s that feel that makes me wanna put the cd on, turn up the stereo and sit on my front porch as the evening sun sets with a cold beer and my dogs. It’s the feel of summer sweat in a small bar with inadequate air conditioning, warm beer and a mosquito problem and not giving a shit, ’cause it’s the only fitting scene for the music the band in front of you playing. Whatever that feeling is, Moreland & Arbuckle has plenty to spread and they spread that shit as thick as Gabourey Sidibe from the opening notes of “Hate to See You Go”, only to double dip that shit before crushing you with a live cover of :The Legend of John Henry”. They offer up a moment’s rest on the atmospheric instrumental “”Before the Flood” before delivering the knockout (and standout) blow that is “18 Counties”, a terribly topical song right now considering what happened in Nashville. From there on out the album cycles between delta blues rockers and those slow simmering tracks you expect from any blues band worth their salt.

I hate to use the term “all killer, no filler” ’cause I think it’s stupid, and in the era of single song mp3 purchases I just don’t think bands can afford to put tracks on albums to fill space. No, I just think they put shitty songs on their albums from time to time. Such is not the case with Flood. No sir, Flood is 13 tracks of awesome that could carry the warning, “Caution: excessive volume may cause face ripping”. Needless to say, Flood is Essential Listening and so is Moreland and Arbuckle in general. I’ve been writing about these guys for a couple of years now and they’re getting better and better with each album.

Moreland & Arbuckle – 18 Counties
Moreland & Arbuckle – Bound and Determined
Moreland & Arbuckle – Hate To See You Go

Moreland & Arbuckle’s Official Site, Moreland & Arbuckle on myspace, Buy Flood

Back in November I mention that Kansas’ Moreland & Arbuckle had recently signed with Fred Litwin’s Northern Blues label and were preparing their label debut, 1861. At the time, I was looking forward to hearing it but I wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, another Floyd’s Market would have been great and I would have happily written about it on here. What I got certainly wasn’t what I expected…no, it’s oh so much better…hell, I can’t even write about it without a huge smile coming across my face. They turned their juke joint/back porch/hill county boogie up to 11, threw in a little 1960′s garage rock, and added more soul than a bowl of Louisiana gumbo.

Saying this album is Essential Listening is like saying Angelina Jolie is a’ight. This album is a party in the form of 12 tracks and it gets my highest endorsement. Northern Blues, a label that prides it self on bringing fresh talent to the blues world, has brought you guys a winner. Check it out!

Moreland & Arbuckle – Gonna Send You Back To Georgia
Moreland & Arbuckle – Please Please Mammy
Moreland & Arbuckle – The Legend

Moreland & Arbuckle’s Official Site, Moreland & Arbuckle on myspace, Buy (and you need to) 1861