Buddy Guy fell into a comfortable groove with producer/drummer
Tom Hambridge way back in 2008, when they joined forces for the fine set
Skin Deep.
The Blues Don't Lie is their fifth album since then, a streak that includes two Grammy-Award winning albums. Such success is a clear indication that
Guy and
Hambridge found a comfortable, relaxed groove long ago, so maybe it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that
The Blues Don't Lie sounds relaxed and comfortable, a clean execution of familiar sounds enlivened by guests. Here,
Guy invites blues singers
Mavis Staples,
Wendy Moten, and
Bobby Rush along with rockers
Elvis Costello,
Jason Isbell, and
James Taylor, each musician enjoying their time in the studio as much as
Guy. Whether it's the gnarled "Symptoms of Love" or the breezy "Follow the Money," these six cuts are the highlights of
The Blues Don't Lie, giving the record a bit of a spark. Elsewhere,
Guy sounds appealing -- perhaps his voice is a little too digitally polished, but that's countered by his guitar, which still sounds muscular -- but ever so slightly too cozy. It's so laid-back that
The Blues Don't Lie is as close to a chill-out record that
Buddy Guy has ever cut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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