Man From Another Time

Moonshine, dungarees, Jools Holland, hillbilly, redneck. We all know the familiar reference points. So are they all present and correct well Jools aside – on the blues singer’s fourth album Man From Another Time? Lyrically, the 60-something songwriter is performing a bit of a balancing act this time around. On the surprisingly low-key title-track Steve sings “My greatest fear before I die/Is to turn into a boring old fart” and it’s a rare insight into an often misunderstood performer. However, he ends up ruining it all by falling back into the same old clichés during tracks like ‘Big Green And Yeller,’ which is about driving around in his brand new tractor. Oh Steve, when will you ever learn?
Musically, the record employs elements of blues, folk, rockabilly, bluegrass and even has flourishes of Marc Bolan-esque riffage (‘Seasick Boogie’), but ultimately Steve continues to rely on his tried and tested schtick. There are a few highlights such as the tender ‘Just Because I Can (CSX),’ which shows the real man behind the façade, but those moments are unfortunately rare. A new sound may be required...