Search - R.L. Burnside :: My Black Name A-Ringin'

A Stunning Display of Blues Power

Ryan Costantino | Nowhere, Special | 01/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I hadn't heard of R. L. Burnside until recently when a friend told me to check his stuff out. I bought this album due to that suggestion and all I can say is I can't believe what I've been missing! Every song is masterfully played, the vocals deep and reminiscent. The most powerful aspect of the Blues is that we, the audience, know that what we are hearing comes from experience. The truthfullness in Mr. Burnside's singing and playing is amazing. This album will get inside your head. For Blues fans this is one Bluesman to put on your list and this album deserves a place there as well. A word of note: If you like this album you might be thrown off by the stuff Burnside does for Fat Possum which is a hell of a lot different from what you hear here."

Eerie Swamp

Oscar Escobar | Bay Area, CA United States | 07/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening track, the album establishes the mood that carries through to the remainder of the album. That mood is dark and still, like stagnant waters where things come to moan and slowly die. More impressive than the rare ability to hit such a finely distilled hue of despair, is the sparseness with which each track is laid. Each track is clean and seemingly simple, but Burnside uses dissonanse to enrich and to complicate what would otherwise be the limited use of a single guitar and a single voice. Overall, some of the best gloomy blues I've heard in a while."