No Refund Band: Current State of Blue Review
Current State of Blue is the second album from the Texas based No Refund Band (NRB). It’s a 12 song offering of nine originals and three very well done remakes. NRB combines gritty, greasy vocals and guitars with smooth horns and a hard-grooving rhythm section. As “horn bands” go, this is not your dad’s overproduced Chicago or Tower of Power. The horn section of Jim Brady (trumpet) and Anthony Terry (saxophone) adds to the punch on the up-tempo/rockers and gives a sultry, smoky dynamic to the ballads. Both Brady and Terry are also fine soloists in their own right and compliment Ricky Jackson’s voice and lead guitar work nicely.
Current State of Blue is a journey through blues, soul and funk. Starting with the muscular drive of “Buy me the Blues,” followed by the sultry title track that takes you right back to more R&B thump, “St. Louis Bound,” and then on to the trumpet drenched “Favorite Fool.” This album makes enough twists and turns to keep the listener anticipating what could be next. One of the album’s highlights is the Latin flavored “Love Unmade.” Think a more sophisticated and edgier Los Lonely Boys. Jackson’s throaty, soulful voice and Santana influenced guitar work along with some really amazing drum, bass and horns make this a standout track showcasing the band’s chops.The funky “Bought and Sold” and “She Take Me” also show off the band’s ability to groove very hard. All of these tracks give the impression that it might be difficult to stay in your seat at an NRB show.
The nine original songs are well written and it’s easy to find yourself singing along. They do a great job with “Mississippi Queen” and “Still Got the Blues.” Jackson’s guitar work on the latter respectfully rivals that of the late Gary Moore. But it’s their remake of Eric Clapton’s “Bell Bottom Blues” that really impressed this reviewer. NRB brings a dose of Sam Cook soul to this very country-ish classic.
Overall, this is an excellent album, with every track being a winner. If you like your blues played uptown with a heaping helping of funk and soul then you must take Current State of Blue for a spin.
The Review: 9/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Bell Bottom Blues
– Favorite Fool
– Love Unmade
– Bought and Sold
– She Take Me
The Big Hit
– Love Unmade
Review by Lou Lombardi
Mr. Lombardi…
I am complete agreement about how excellent this band and this cut performance is. I just have a small detail criticism.
You wrote, “As “horn bands” go, this is not your dad’s overproduced Chicago or Tower of Power.” Whenever you cut the size of the horn section down to two; that forces the section into, for the most part, unison or harmony-in-thirds voiceings. It is the addition of instruments, playing different parts of the chord structure that adds to the sophistication…definitely not “over production.” concept. Tower had 5 horns. Chicago had 3 and were, for the most part, double and triple-tracked in the studio. Any two-man section will always sound more raw than sections with higher population.
But, like I said, this is a minor detail and the band is burnin’ hot, as is the horn section.
Sheldon Bermont