Check Out OTIS TAYLOR...Please.

When someone who doesn't know me asks me what type of music I listen to, I do the typical response of "pretty much anything." When they get to know me, they find that to be about as true as can be. Now if someone who knows me asks what genre of music I like the most, they wouldn't get an answer because my head would probably just shut off after hours of trying to decide. But if push came to shove, I think I'd choose blues. A little different because I'm a pacific northwestern white dude who's biggest problems stem from his own idiocy, but I don't think you can beat good blues or the current blues influenced rock (Dax Riggs and everything on Fat Possum Records, JJ Grey and Mofro, a lot of Jack White stuff, seattle band Whalebones, a bunch of others I'm forgetting right now, and please let me know of other good ones you know) That's why I will never bash the movie Shooter (what?). The closing credits of that Mark Wahlberg sniper flick introduced me to Otis Taylor and his amazing and haunting song "Nasty Letter." The Chicago-born, Denver transplant has been one the most rewarding musical descoveries of the year for me, its probably the best because of his nice sized back catalog of blues that I've been able to track down and listen to like new. Most is based around mandolin, guitar and harmonica, but this year he came out with a release trying to get banjo back into blues. Taylor played the banjo years ago, but gave it up after finding it had been used almost exclusively with bluegrass music for the past however many years. While I recommend all of his releases, here's some highlights from the albums I've checked out so you can make a solid Otis Taylor mix tape/playlist if you would like. If you dig this, also check out the late great RL Burnside, who did a lot of similar things with current blues and rock, and adding some well known guests as well.

White African - won an award for blues debut
- Round and Round (crazy harmonica)
- Hungry People
- My Soul In Louisiana
- Momma Don't You Do It (crazy banjo)

Respect The Dead
- 32nd time
- Three Stripes on a Cadillac
- Just Live Your Life

Truth Is Not Fiction - my favorite of his releases, so far. Real fast paced, pressing blues rock
- Nasty Letter
- Rosa Rosa
- Babies Don't Lie

Double V - more of a full band sound than previous efforts, so it sounds a little less bluesy, but still solid
- Mandan Woman
- Buy Myself Some Freedom
- 505 Train

Below The Fold - mix of electric and acoustic blues with some strings mixed in very well
- Boy Plays Mandolin
- Went to Hermes
- Government Lied

Definition Of A Circle - more electric guitar, some stuff that is almost completely rock n roll, some toned down blues as well
- They Wore Blue
- Love and Hesitation
- Few Feet Away

Recapturing The Banjo - an attempt to reconnect people to the roots of banjo blues, including a great list of guest musicians
- Hey Joe (Hendrix Cover)
- Little Liza Jane