Review: Albert Castiglia 'I Got Love'

Albert Castiglia

By Mike O’Cull

Miami’s own Blues Music Award-winning guitar sensation Albert Castiglia catches some big air on his brand new release I Got Love. The set is scheduled to drop March 25th, 2022 on Gulf Coast Records, the imprint run by guitarist/entrepreneur Mike Zito, and absolutely sizzles with the pent-up inspiration Castiglia and the rest of us have been carrying during the last two years of Covid uncertainty. The 11 new songs here capture the essence of the pandemic experience for Castiglia and likely mirror what many of his fans have endured, as well.

“I Got Love is a musical essay documenting the last two years of my life: two years of many highs and lows,” Castiglia says. “It’s about falling, failing, adapting, reinventing, surviving and becoming triumphant.” The record is, indeed, Castiglia’s most theme-centered album to date and effectively graphs the internal tug-of-war between darkness and light he had to overcome to survive, bring these songs to the world, and continue onward in his chosen vocation. Mike Zito produced the sessions brilliantly, capturing Castiglia at full strength backed by heavyweight players including Justine Tompkins (bass and vocals), Ephraim Lowell (drums and vocals),and Lewis Stephens (Hammond B3 organ and piano).

Castiglia is no stranger to heavyweights. He was jumped into the blues scene as the guitarist for Chicago harp master Junior Wells, one of the most definitive harmonica players to ever emerge from the City of Big Shoulders. He also went on to back up vocalist Sandra Hall before going all-in and becoming a solo artist. Since then, Castiglia has won the Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album of the Year for his record Masterpiece and was also nominated for Blues Rock Artist of the Year. He’s established himself as one of the USA’s mightiest contemporary roots musicians and there’s no end to his achievements in sight.

Castiglia gets busy immediately, leading off the record with his title track “I Got Love.” It’s a hard-hitting track that rocks with a kinetic, survival-based energy that’s bound to pump up anyone feeling the stress of modern life. His vocals are bold and cathartic and his guitar notes sting and soar. The band is tight and bright behind him, creating a solid pocket that drives Castiglia forward.

The snarling funk of “Don’t Pray With The Devil” finds Castiglia preaching and reaching, dispensing sage advice on the mic while simultaneously ripping his strings off with the kind of aggressive phrasing that threatens to crash but never does. AC walks the line between chaos and music in a way that only those who have felt the edge can and truly lets us feel what’s in his soul. If this doesn’t move yours, you don’t have one.

“Burning Bridges” is more hard-edged funk/rock and speaks to the need to cut negative, smack-talking people out of one’s life and contract one’s inner circle. It’s an angry song and Castiglia goes at it full-throttle, showing some spleen to those who have tried to slow his roll. His crisp rhythm playing and overdriven leads are on-point and channel the intense emotions that inspired this honest and entertaining track.

Castiglia gives his slide a workout on the shuffling “Long Haul Daddy.” This is upbeat, party blues as it was meant to be played and is guaranteed to get any crowd up and moving. Again, Albert leaves it all out there on this one, playing with a fury that could power the lights of Miami. It’s a genuine bone-shaker with a call-and-response chorus that’s nothing but fun. Other prime Castiglia moments on I Got Love include Melvin Taylor’s “Depression Blues” and the closer “Take My Name Out Of Your Mouth.” This is without a doubt Albert Castiglia’s finest effort to date and shows him to be one of the best players and songwriters working today. Anyone seeking high-test blues/rock that speaks the Truth will find it right here.

Listen “I Got Love”