Paul Reddick + The Sidemen
Rattlebag

In the 1960s, the British music scene latched on to American blues, tossing it back across the Atlantic as a raging ball of psychedelic soul. Several decades later comes Paul Reddick + The Sidemen, a Canadian ensemble that, like its ’60s counterparts, captures the fiery essence of the Delta swamp and merges it with the edgy bombast of rock ’n‘ roll.

Rattlebag is Reddick’s fourth release, and while it’s in no way a groundbreaking album, it is a solidly consistent effort that stylistically falls along the lines of John Mayall’s varied output. It’s just as good too, blending New Orleans’ R&B with the furious Chicago sound, laid-back acoustic country, and heartfelt Memphis soul to form a rich stew that fully traverses the blues’ long heritage. Toss in songs like Pearl River Blues and Blind River Bound, which could easily be confused as lost recordings by Eric Clapton, and it’s easy to mistake this album for something from another time.   ½

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!