by Martine Ehrenclou
Grab your headphones. Lock the doors. There’s a new album in town. Middle of the Road by the great, Eric Gales, hit the U.S. on March 24, 2017, and it’s nothing short of outstanding. Gales’ 16th album is a soul-satisfying collection of funky blues-rock tunes with gospel, reggae and jazz flavors.
Middle of the Road is by far the best album I’ve heard in a long time.
Eric Gales and other collaborators wrote ten out of the eleven songs and all have catchy melodies, inspiring lyrics and of course, scintillating guitar riffs and solos. But part of this album’s excellence is that it isn’t the typical guitar-driven album where the tracks serve the guitar player’s skills. The entire album is created with finesse, and perhaps with a preconceived notion about the album as a whole.
Middle of the Road is the perfect storm of blues-rock mixed with hints of contemporary gospel, reggae and jazz. It’s rare to hear these genres mixed so seamlessly and it’s part of what makes the album interesting. All of the tracks are well crafted with excellent musicianship. With Eric Gales on vocals, guitar and bass, Arron Haggerty on drums, Dylan Wiggans on the B3 and LaDonna Gales on background vocals, they form an oh-so-tight band.
This album’s got serious groove.
The opening track, “Good Time,” is an upbeat invitation to feel-good music. This tune has a gospel flavor, complete with LaDonna Gales on background vocals. You’ll be tapping your foot by the time this tune is underway.
Track two, “Change in Me,” is the first song on Middle of the Road where Eric Gales opens up on guitar. With a reggae rhythm guitar riff, this track is about redemption wrapped in a blues-rock feel. The guitar solo by Gales is brilliant. If you haven’t heard of him, you are in for a treat. He is one of the most underrated, under recognized guitarists and one of the best I’ve ever heard.
Slide down the banister of “Carry Yourself,” a funky blues-rock number that demands peak volume in your headphones or from great quality speakers. This song is just plain fun. Gales’ vocals on this tune and others on the album, are rich in tone, and sync perfectly with the beat. Gales also kills it with the guitar solos and licks on this song.
“Help Yourself,” another standout track, is blues-rock at its best. It has a little ZZ Top flavor, even down to the vocal effects. It’s a fun, rockin’ tune and still delivers a wise message.
“I’ve Been Deceived” is a rock anthem. It’s hard driving force is graced by LaDonna Gales’ background vocals on the chorus. This track will regale rock fans with its Hendrix-esque guitar solos.
“Repetition” kicks off with a funky bass run (bass played by Eric Gales.) This is such an interesting track, a jazz-rock number with a funky twist. Gales sings the rhythmic lyrics with ease. I have to highlight his brother, Eugene Gales, on guitar in this song. His solos are spectacular.
For something completely different and beautiful in its own right, is “Help Me Let Go,” a song performed on acoustic guitar and sung by the man himself. The guitar melody and lyrics are lovely and moving. The B3 organ adds to the almost “praise” sound of this tune.
“I Don’t Know,” the 10th track, is another funky blues-rock number that features Gales singing scat in the intro and in other sections, lending punch to the beat and phrasing. This song has a great feel along with exquisite musicianship. Upon first listen to this song on my iPhone (the real test for any album because the sound quality is so poor,) I wrote in my notes, “Great songs!”
“Swamp” concludes the album, a quick-beat instrumental tune with elements of jazz throughout. It’s almost southern rock that shifts into jazz progressions. It’s a song to savor in the early spring sunshine.
There’s nothing middle of the road about Eric Gales’ new album. I highly recommend it not just for the good time fun but for the deft production and expert musicianship that makes Middle of the Road my number one album of 2017.
Middle of the Road is available on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3x8RBu8okCCBLi5vnY4UyV
Amazon Music: http://amzn.to/2naD4yB
iTunes: http://apple.co/2naRWg8
We welcome your comments. Post below.
Eric Gales has been on my radar ever since his work on Nina Sings the blues and the ” Stuff” album. Great! Period. I will surely find this record and buy it!
Sage,
Thanks for your comment. So glad to hear you are an Eric Gales fan!