Search - Kinsey Report :: Edge of the City

Another winner from Alligator Records

Mark R. Van Wagenen | Elgin, Illinois USA | 02/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Big Daddy Kinsey's sons (and a friend) have done well, and this album has the grittiness of their hometown of Gary, Indiana. Alligator is to blues like Blue Note is to jazz; you don't lose too often, and you don't here. Good leadoff track is "Poor Man's Relief" which is spelled m-o-n-e-y in this case; an uptempo number despite the fairly gloomy theme. An interesting tune is "Answering Machine"; in which Don Kinsey has to leave messages with his woman, broker and lawyer because he suddenly can't reach them; that can't be a good thing. Best tune on the CD is "Full Moon On Main Street" which you sometimes hear on WXRT in Chicago (There's a Full Moon on Main Street/Can't you hear the sirens wail/There's a Full Moon on Main Street/Somebody's going to jail), a slow, mournful tune; followed by the classic hard-luck tale "Good Luck Charm". They also do a slow version of the old tune "The Game of Love" which is unfortunate, but that is the only real clunker on the CD. This is not real traditional blues but blues nonetheless, and the real-world, hard-luck themes of many of the tracks will resonate with blues lovers.



The good news is, they're back together after a long haitus. Catch them if you get a chance, especially if you live in the Chicago area."

Much overrated...

Bete Noire | Vancouver, Canada | 02/11/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Strangely enough,this has been regarded by many critics and fans alike as the climax of this band;yet,compared with their later,much grittier and true to life albums,this recording seems just a modest beginning."