JEFF BLACK
B-Sides And Confessions Volume One (Dualtone)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Jeff Black's songs have been covered by Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush and Blackhawk (who took his "That's Just About Right" to the top of the charts), among others, but it's hard to imagine any of the ten tracks on B-Sides And Confessions sounding better from anyone else. The title's somewhat misleading, because while the directness of Black performances definitely show a confessional quality, there's not a song here that's not deserving of bona-fide A-side attention. His songs draw comparison to Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Harry Chapin, and those comparisons are deserved, but misleading in their own way. Black is a true original, with solid stories of his own to tell, and a genuine talent for telling them.

It's been five years since his debut album, Birmingham Road, and while the songs here probably have enough depth to hold our attention for another five, I sure hope it won't be that long, because Jeff Black has things to say we need to hear a lot more of. This is one of the finest singer/songwriter efforts I've heard this year, and it's been a fine year for singer/songwriters. Don't miss this one.

Track List:

Slip * Same Old River * Holy Roller * Sunday Best * To Be With You * Cold Heart Locket * Cakewalk * Bless My Soul * Bastard * Higher Ground

© 2003 - Shaun Dale