Album Review

Alberta Cross – Old Man Chicago

• 14th Mar 2010

Don’t get me wrong, melodious low-key blues howling can be both poignant and cathartic, but when it reeks of forcedness, relies a little too much on trite guitar hooks and lingering vocal cries. Then it doesn’t take long to reach grating point.

In ‘Old Man Chicago’, New York based pair Petter Ericson Stakee (vocals, guitar) & Terry Wolfers (Bass) use a wavering vocal cry, mildly gospel titled backing and a hanging instrumental backdrop to portray the life of a loner.

However, it just doesn’t come to life and they don’t really draw you into the cause, like they have done on other tracks from their debut album, ‘Broken Side Of Time’. They are better than this.