Botheration

Gary Primich continues to hone his art to a fine edge with the release of this new album, his second for Black Top. Primich has been near the top of the list when it comes to great modern harmonica players, but with this album he takes a major leap in becoming the whole package. His vocals have never sounded this in-the-pocket and the songwriting takes leaps up the flagpole. Primich collaborates with Austin guitar hotshot Mark Korpi, who shares the songwriting duties and contributes brutal guitar work on Otis Rush's "She's a Good 'Un," "Fast Money," and some decidedly nasty lap steel on "Dollar, Dollar." From the blazing instrumental "Mr. Itch" to the Sonny Boy Williamson II-styled blowing on "Goodbye Little Girl" to the heartfelt acoustic closer with Steve James, Charlie Rich's "Feel Like Going Home," Primich scores big with a wide variety of grooves and moods, making for a modern-day blues album that accomplishes a whole lot more than just regurgitating the same old ideas and motifs.