Kevin Moore, known by his current stage name Keb' Mo', is a California born blues artist. He's been held up as a living link to the Delta Blues artists of old. Though his range is far wider and included pop and rock elements at times.
Released: 1994
Genre: Blues, Country Blues, Delta Blu
The debut album from Keb', considered his first solo effort after years of playing in various groups. It is, technically, his second solo album - the first being 'Rainmaker' released in 1980 under Kevin Moore (which is more R&B oriented from my understanding).
The self titled debut is a blues, with subtle hints of country, rock, and even a little R&B styling in various places, album. An almost completely acoustic album with a number of guitar-vocal only tracks, which goes all the way back to the early blues styles of the 1920s and 30s.
He does two Robert Johnson covers on the album, Come On In My Kitchen and Kindhearted Woman Blues. The first is with full band, though only providing a background rhythm. He's slowed it down from the original recordings, down to what is most likely the original speed and rhythm of the song. The same with the second cover, slower and a little quieter, no band backing though - just Keb and guitar.
The album ends with a track that can't decide if it's blues or a country ballad, which makes for a nice cap to it. The whole thing never really settles into a specific styling of blues for very long, and quite nicely shows off Keb's wide range of talent within the Blues world.
All in all, a really fantastic modern blues album that isn't worried about where it really belongs, doesn't try and fit a mold, and just plays on. A bit mellow, none of the tracks pick up past a moderate pace. Worth tracking down if you want something modern with older leanings.
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