Review: Mike Zito ‘Life Is Hard’

Review: Mike Zito ‘Life Is Hard’

By Martine Ehrenclou

Multi Blues Music Award-winner Mike Zito releases the album of his life with Life Is Hard out February 23rd on his label Gulf Coast Records and produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. It’s a scorcher and he’s never sounded better.

Zito says, “My wife Laura and I planned this idea of pouring my heart out in music after her death from cancer. Joe, Josh and the incredible musicians were fully aware of the task at hand. They brought a lot of emotion to the music. I am so proud of this album and I know Laura would be proud as well.”

The 12 tracks on Life Is Hard include several heartbreakers by Zito, but also lively and meaningful blues songs by Tinsley Ellis, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit and Fred James, plus covers by Little Milton, Stevie Wonder, Reverend Gary Davis and The Guess Who.

In my recent interview with Mike Zito, he shared that he played all of the guitar solos on the record. And they are so good, skillful and jam-packed with soul. As are his vocals. Zito’s voice is stronger and more powerful than ever, as if he’s giving Life Is Hard everything he’s got.

Take opening number “Lonely Man” (Little Milton), a swinging blues with great groove. Zito comes off as fully present, summoning some kind of renewed mightiness from within. He’s on the edge with nothing left to lose.

It doesn’t hurt that Mike Zito is surrounded by some of the best musicians in the business. They aren’t making him look good—they’re bringing out the best in him. His guitar solo on “Lonely Man” sounds like it’s played on a Les Paul, with beefy riffs cutting through punchy horns (Paulie Cerra on sax, Jennifer Kumma and Anna Spina on French horn.) Reese Wynans works his magic on keyboards, backed by Bonamassa and Smith on additional guitar, Calvin Turner on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, and Jade Macrae and Dannielle Deandrea on background vocals. What a rhythm section. What a selection of songs.

The heartbreakers on Life Is Hard veer to the center of your chest. But more than that, the title track “Life Is Hard” (Fred James) is not like other slow blues that can drag you down the rabbit hole of sorrow—this is so good, so well done, that you can’t help but fall into the magnificence of the music played here– the tinkling of Wynan’s piano, Zito’s guitar and vocals. Dam!

“Forever My Love” is the main standout on the album, a fiery slow blues with Mike laying it all out there, his grief channeled into every word. It’s one of those songs that grabs you no matter how hard you fight it, summoning memories of your own losses. With a Gary Moore vibe, Zito kills it on this guitar solo—beautiful, passionate and unlike anything he has done before.

Photo: Norma Touchette

Thankfully, there are lighter tracks to give you a breather such as “Have a Talk With God”  (Calvin Hardaway, Stevie Wonder), or the rock & roller “No One To Talk To (But The Blues)” and the late 60’s hit “These Eyes.” “Dying To Do Wrong” by Tinsley Ellis lends a bit of swampy rocking spice to the mix, with Zito on slide guitar.

A Zito original “Without Loving You” is a blues rocker with a catchy guitar hook. Atmospheric with effects, Zito is on point again here, and you can hear it in his voice, in his guitar. He sings, “Missing you is my cross to bear. Something’s got to give, how am I gonna live.” Playing his Telecaster, he shows how good he is on rhythmic songs that groove.

There’s such a good balance of songs on Life Is Hard. No two songs sound alike and they’re placed in perfect order. A gritty, blues rocker with an edge is Walter Trout’s “Nobody Moves Me Like You Do” a sultry track that’s a hot spell in the dead of winter.

Highly recommended.

Pre-order Life Is Hard here 

“Forever My Love”