Mason Ruffner

This CD, in places, just cranks it up and spits out a wall of undiluted rock and roll. Straight ahead full speed ahead and tell everything to get out of our way. "Gypsy Blood," and "Dancin' on Top of the World," are two cuts that really stand out in this vein. A couple of the tracks just seem to be languishing in a daze as if they've suffered a concussion, and can't decide which way to go. This CD is produced by Dave Edmunds, and I like a lot of his work because when it hits, it hits hard. However, when it misses it leaves you scratching your head wondering. The band is tight, just sometimes lacking that guiding hand. The hard-charging "Courage" alone makes this a worthwhile disc, and there is more than just that track to pick the listener up. (Bob Gottlieb, AMG)

For fans of the American blues-rock Good Whiskey Blues - just a gift. Cool melodies, captivating rhythms, original things … and what voice !? Bluesmen such as Bleu Jackson, Freddie & The Screamers, Sy Clopps, would look absolutely win-win next to any superstar, and slide guitar of Michael Henderson is not worse than, say, the same Dave Hole.

The lyrics are very interesting, subtle and strangely refreshing. They songs stay with you, especially "Vacances d'Enfer". It is a classy blues CD with excellent harp work, low down grit (like in "Ode to Muddy"), zydeco, swing and New Orleans grooves. Also the vocal performance is probably the best that Forest has ever recorded. Having read the book "Letter From Hell" made the music all that more enjoyable. As a musician and songwriter Andy J Forest keeps getting better and he stands further and further apart from the vast reservoir of blues artists on the scene today.