Search - Coco Montoya :: Suspicion

Guitarist Coco Montoya started out playing rock & roll, and it shows. On his fourth album, the former John Mayall and Albert Collins sideman rocks his blues hard, with the occasional soul-flavored ballad thrown in for variety. The album kicks off on a note that's high-energy yet relaxed, as Montoya declares that "Enough Is Enough." "I Need Your Love in My Life" is as upbeat and cheering as can be, a sure cure for rainy-day doldrums. And with "Don't Take It Personally" and "You Didn't Think About That," Montoya certainly rocks out. But he's got a soft side too, as the smoky "Fool" and the tender "Nothing but Love" handily illustrate. Although, like his mentor Mayall, Montoya is an indifferent vocalist, he more than makes up for it with his guitar work, which is both expressive and technically brilliant--the blistering solo on "Beyond the Blues" is proof enough of that. Suspicion is Montoya's first album for Alligator Records, and it's unsurprisingly a bit smoother around the edges than his previous records for Blind Pig. Still, it's a strong effort all around, with touches of real warmth and sweetness. --Genevieve Williams