The Glenn Kaiser Band has dominated Christian blues rock since they released Winter Sun in 2000. It's hard to believe that this amazing power trio hasn't put out a studio release since 2003's Blacktop. Rez Band alums Glenn Kaiser and Roy Montroy finally combine with drummer Ed Bialach to once again release some scorching blues with Octane. As typical, Kaiser writes the majority of the lyrics while Montroy contributes about half of the music. The CD kicks off with "Broken Love," a rousing number that brings to mind prior tunes like "Full Time Love":
God's love can still be found / It's all around us / To heal the broken love
Lots of slide guitar comes into play on "Streetcorner Blues," a song that laments prostitution. Kaiser has never shied away from the gritty side of city life, but always offers hope. The band covers Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground," opening with lots of wah pedal guitar and stamping the song with their blues rock style. "Young Man Blues" by Mose Allison includes new lyrics and a new arrangement, while everything else on the album is original GKB (other than "Depends On Where You Stand" with lyrics by Jon Trott, a contributor since the beginning of Resurrection Band in the 70s). Anyone who loves blues rock will enjoy Octane. I especially enjoyed "Stand By The Window," a classic Kaiser lament perfectly suited to his passionate vocals:
Snow has been falling all around me / Alone in the darkness, white on the ground / Tears keep on falling, over and down / And I stand by the window tonight / And I stand watching, waiting for the light
If you like Stevie Ray Vaughn-style electric blues with your basic power trio and harmonica approach, you can't go wrong here.
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