The Fabulous Thunderbirds: Struck Down Review
Struck Down is the Fabulous Thunderbirds’ first new studio album in eight years and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the band’s inception in 1974. Over the course of the previous five decades the Fabulous Thunderbirds have released over two dozen studio, live, and compilation albums that have been nominated for six Grammy Awards and 20 Blues Music Awards. Kim Wilson hooked up with Steve Strongman to compose the songs for Struck Down and the result of the positive chemistry between them produced 17 songs that they chose nine originals and one cover for the ten cuts on the album. The album features musical guests like Elvin Bishop, Mick Fleetwood, Billy Gibbons, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, and Terrance Simien. The current lineup of The Fabulous Thunderbirds includes longtime lead vocalist and harmonica player Kim Wilson, Johnny Moeller on guitar, Bob Welsh on Piano and guitar, Rudy Albin on drums, and Steve Kirsty on bass.
The opening cut is “Struck Down By the Blues” containing the album’s title and a description of the agent responsible for that action. Steve Strongman’s guitar playing is featured with its potent mix of gritty guitar riffs that reach stratospheric levels as they harmonize with Wilson’s impassioned vocals that all seamlessly weave with the rhythm section to create a rich tapestry of sound. “Don’t Make No Sense” features accordionist Terrance Simien on the Cajun flavored tune. The song is a rollicking romp that allows Kim Wilson’s heartfelt vocal delivery to rhyme with the rhythm followed by his soulful harmonica segueing into the Simien’s squeezebox.
“You know I tried so hard to get next to you
You know that all I want is to show you what I can do”
“Payback Time” is the story of life from the time that you’re a kid with no responsibility to the day you become an adult and have to pay for everything on your way to the grave. The song features Wilson’s good friend ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons on lead guitar and backing vocals. Wilson’s harmonica interplays with Gibbons’ guitar to create a dynamic sound and the first single released off the album. “Nothing in Rambling” is the sole cover originally penned and recorded by Memphis Minnie in 1940. The song features Bonnie Raitt on vocals and guitar, along with Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, and Mick Fleetwood on drums all accompanied by Wilson’s mouth harp and is true to the original with its acoustic sound. Cut number five is “Won’t Give Up” a tailor-made composition for Kim Wilson to fulfill his role as “the greatest harmonica player since Little Walter” according to Muddy Waters. The band is in full swing pumping out a driving beat to accompany Wilson’s mouth harp along with some stinging guitar embellishments by Johnny Moeller.
“Sometimes life is so dogonned hard
Looking at things I can’t afford”
Song number six opens with a slow passionate vocal delivery by Wilson interspersed by Moeller’s sparse guitar interplay. Wilson’s harmonica harmonizes with the guitar and Rudy Albins’ steady drumbeat. The song is about a basic lesson of life and how sometimes regardless of good advice we decide to do it “The Hard Way.” “Whatcha Do To Me” features Elvin Bishop on guitar delivering a soulful blend of gritty hard rocking blues. The rhythm section comprised of Albin on drums and Steve Kirsty on bass drives the song forward with a steady, infectious groove. The interplay between Wilson’s harmonica and Bishop’s guitar leads into Wilson’s raspy, impassioned vocals describing the timeless emotional effect of love’s intoxicating power.
“Everytime you come around
That’s what you do to me”
“I’ve Got Eyes” opens with Moeller’s stinging guitar and segues into Wilson barking out “I’ve got eyes” followed by his mouth harp transcending the driving beat. It’s a story about a broken relationship with lyrics describing everything…
“Let me tell you people
I got a story for you”
“That’s Cold” is a rockabilly hard rocking ditty with Wilson’s lyrics dripping with a sense of raw vulnerability and unfiltered emotion punctuated by Moeller’s blazing guitar riffs. The final cut on Struck Down is “Sideline” which is the most laid back slow soulful cut on the album with a gospel feel to it. Wilson’s vocals harmonize with Bob Welsh’s keyboards, the background chorus and Steve Kirsty’s saxophone.
Struck Down marks the triumphant return of one of the most passionately versatile blues rock bands of the genre. The Fabulous Thunderbirds have a rich history of album releases going back to the 1970s and its newest offering is a dynamic addition to their catalogue. The collaboration between Kim Wilson and Steve Strongman has yielded a collection of songs that are both fresh and faithful to the bands roots.
The Review: 9/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Struck Down By the Blues
– Payback Time
– Won’t Give Up
– The Hard Way
– I’ve Got Eyes
The Big Hit
– Payback Time
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