TOMMY MALONE
Soul Heavy (Louisiana Red Hot Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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He's worked with luminaries including Shawn Colvin, Rusty Kershaw and Rosanne Cash, but Tommy Malone's best known for a decade with the Subdudes. When his post 'Dudes band, Tiny Town, didn't catch on, Malone headed back to New Orleans and got to work on the next step, which has turned out to be a terrific solo debut.

Soul Heavy dips into the same Bayou flavored soul stew that served the Subdudes so well, but he broadens the recipe somewhat. Don't let the acoustic guitar he cradles on the back cover fool you - there's a lot more here than folk-flavored tidbits of blue-eyed soul. There's some of that, for sure, but judicious use of electric guitars, keyboards and sax punch up the sound that gives Soul Heavy a sound that's, well, it's a bit heavier, and more soulful, than you might suspect at first glance.

There are echoes of some of Malone's classic forbearers - Spencer Davis-era Winwood, Van Morrison and Dave Mason jump immediately to mind - but he moulds his influences and his personal history into a sharp personal style. Malone says he's wanted to make this album for a long time. Well, he has, and you'll want to listen to it for a long time yet to come.

Track List:

Fat Tuesday * Virginia Street * Too Close For Comfort * Soul Heavy * Somebody Got Caught * Hold On * Mothers * Real * Oh Baby * Lead You To My Door

© 2001 - Shaun Dale