HopelessJack & The Handsome Devil – Shallow Hearts - Shallow Graves(Independent)
Hopeless Jack is, err, Hopeless Jack and the HandsomeDevil is Smilin’ Pete. Jack sings and strums and Pete bashes and crashes.Together, the pair of them play the blues, and I’m sure when you’re presentedwith two musicians, a guitarist-singer and a drummer, indulging in thatparticular genre, certain monochrome names like White Stripes and Black Keyscome most readily to mind. I’m sure Hopeless Jack and Smilin’ Pete wouldn’tobject too strongly to the comparisons, but there’s something extra raw andswampy in what they do, and I’m more inclined to place them alongside other artistson the Fat Possum roster, artists like R.L. Burnside and the decidedlyunpolished Paul ‘Wine’ Jones.The invitingly titled “Shallow Hearts - ShallowGraves” hits the ground running. “Hopeless Love” boogies hard and fast, itsrelentless rhythmic shimmy would inspire even the most terminallyundemonstrative to shake a leg or two. On “Say My Name” Jack shows what a goodslide guitarist he is, and the fluidity of his style is matched by Pete’sunerring beat. They reach their pinnacle on the seven-plus minutes of “Ashley's Song”. Keyboards underpin their blues, afemale backing singer wails like she’s just stepped out of a Pink Floyd “DarkSide…” session, and the duo build the tension through layers of unyieldingguitar squall and walking rhythms. It’s an immense achievement, almostexhausting in its uncompromising stance. And when it ends, I generally play itagain.www.hopelessjack.comwww.facebook.com/hopelessjackwww.reverbnation.com/hopelessjackthehandsomedevilTony S.
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