THE TREVOR FINLAY BAND: SHOW ME WHAT U GOTI receive a lot of CDs here to review, many are very fine recordings and ultimately make their way to our review list at Bluesrockers. Occasionally, one will arrive and so impress me that it will stay in my CD player long after the review is written and other CDs arrive. I have found that these CDs are few and far between. However, such is the case with "Show Me What U Got", the latest release from the Ottawa, Canada based Trevor Finlay Band. If I had not known any better, I would have sworn this was an Australian artist the first time I played the CD. I hope the band will take this as my utmost compliment to them, as I have long believed that the Aussie artists set the standard for the very highest quality and most consistent blues/rock recordings. Trevor Finlay is an excellent guitarist, both electric and acoustic, and like many of the aforementioned Aussies, a most adept and tasteful slide player. His band mates are also first rate and are by name Barry Buse on bass guitar and Mark Rehder on drums. They are an outstanding band, with crisp, precise drumming and driving bass guitar supporting the diverse but always excellent guitar styles of Finlay. 11 of the 12 tracks are originals on which Trevor Finlay demonstrates that he is a very fine songwriter as well. Plus his vocals are among the very best I have heard of the entire genre. The studio sound is especially good, with all of these things combining to create a most remarkable recording. "Show Me What U Got" is one of the finest CDs I have reviewed in a long while. The material varies in style, combining elements of blues, rock, electric boogie, rockabilly, and a touch of funk. The overall sound is very original again somewhat reminiscent of some of the slide heavy Australians. There is not a bad track in the set and Trevor Finlay generates more energy in a mid tempo song than anyone I have heard in a long while. No matter the style or tempo, his guitar always demonstrates excellence of the 3 big "T"s: tone, timing, and taste. My favorite tracks on the set include the wah wah drenched shuffle "Mr. Bad Timing", a wonderful remake of the old Gene Vincent tune "Bebopalula", the very rock radio friendly tracks "Couldn't It Wait (Til The Morning)" and "Lion's Mouth", with perhaps my very favorite being the opening track "I'll Come To You" featuring plenty of slide and driving rhythm. It's all good with plenty of diversity to hit most any taste. This young man is surely destined for great things to come in the future and someone whose career I will be watching closely as it develops. "Show Me What U Got" is available at several online locations, most notably from Bluesrockers' favorite supplier CDBaby (link www.cdbaby.com/cd/trevorfinlay). Please be sure to visit the band online at www.tfband.com as well. Tom Branson The band: Trevor Finlay - guitars, vocals, voices The Tunes: 1. I'll Come To You - 2. Mr. Bad Timing - 3. It's Over - 4. Couldn't It Wait (Til The Morning) - 5. Let's Just Get Drunk - 6. Philly No More - 7. Beboplula - 8. Dance Like No One's Looking - 9. Lion's Mouth - 10. Keep It Up - 11. Show Me What U Got 2005 BKSA Records © Bluesrockers 2005 |