Steve Rosen, author (February - 2010) --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyone who's familiar with vintage tube amplifiers has heard of "NOS" (New Old Stock) parts - meaning either (1) old, but never used before, or (2) new, but manufactured using "vintage" specs. This metaphor can be applied perfectly to the absolutely fabulous "old school" approach embodied in Bryce Janey's latest release, Blues In My Soul. With his road worn Strat, using only his fingers, he proceeds to lay his soul bare within the most expressive display of touch sensitivity, tone control, wicked chops and arc-welded grooves this side of the Mississippi delta. Even a cursory listen reveals how deep this cat digs.. every track drips with a smooth, well-worn rawness and authenticity, each delving deeper, like every song is a page from a living document. Coaxing sweltering sounds through his fingers, Bryce slow cooks his mojo to strip off any unwanted impurity, leaving only the essential essence of his vintage vibe unfiltered - like a long, slow boil that makes the meat fall off the bone. I'm not kidding. To top off this complete package, layered over this intense riffage are "Gentleman Jack" smooth and strong vocals spinning tales of hard-won emotional battles fought; sometimes won, sometimes lost. Bryce truly carves a deep and wide heartland homestead in the electric blues guitar landscape with this powerful release. Dan "DJ" Johnson (bass) and Eric Douglas (drums) lay the foundation of this blues groove temple.. in all its varied permutations.. but instead of building walls, Bryce proceeds to tear them down with an incendiary display of white hot riffage that is raw and anxious, yet smooth and calm. If that seems contradictory, just listen to the stories that Bryce tells, both with his words and his music - it will all become clear The blues ARE in his soul.. it's as if you can actually hear the spirits of those late, great souls of the electric blues speaking through Bryce, passing their spiritual torch to this young man for safekeeping. A vintage vibe is everywhere, with deep reverence, respect, belief and conviction, infused with an old soul purity.. yes.. you CAN hear them speak through Janey's unique voice. Whether it's his original tunes, or his inventive reinterpretation of others (just check out Trower's "In This Place"), everything fits like an old pair of boots. How refreshing.. no pretension, just pure, deep, soulfully smoking guitar awesomeness, delivered with passion and power. Bryce Janey is the "New Old Stock" of today, a standard bearer with a direct spiritual connection to a musical place that's, for the most part, largely ignored or forgotten.. and if remembered, often marginalized by the forces of novelty. I know that these are just words. Now you must listen to the sounds that inspired these words. Get this record, and let Bryce take you back to that "old school" place where you always feel welcome. Then you'll know - it will all become clear-
Jimmy Ryan (Truth Squad) (February 2010) --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blues In My Soul is the superb sixth record by Iowa native Bryce Janey, son of legendary Billy Lee Janey (of Truth and Janey). Bryce has a ballsy swagger to his music that puts it somewhere between ZZ Top, Canned Heat and Head East. Hard Rock Southern Country Blues may be the more lengthy description. A student of old school blues, SRV and his own father has fine-tuned the guitarist into an exceptional musician. The sting of his guitar can be felt in the autobiographical "Funky Guitar Blues" where he builds a hip-shaking groove while shooting electric solo spurts into the belly of the song. His vocal growl is reminiscent of Doyle Bramhall II with shades of Molly Hatchet's Danny Joe Brown and sells the lyrics with emotional impact whether he's singing the soulful "Mean Old Town", the rough and tough "Hard Workin' Man" or Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor". The real wake up call comes with opening track, "Country Fever" where the band, including bassist Dan DJ Johnson and drummer Eric Douglas, take a heavyweight '70s boogie and beef it up with razor sharp guitar. For fans of sludge warriors, Truth and Janey, it's a thrill to have the strutting "Running Down The Road" and riff-heavy "Walking on a Live Wire" penned by father and son. Both are straight blues grinders but have that mid-western roll-licking backbeat. With thirteen tracks on the disc, it's hard to pick favorites. However, we'd suggest starting with a couple friendly rumblers like the swaying "Medicine Man" which could easily fit on an old Whitesnake record. There's also the brilliant "City Under Water" which has a laidback bass-driven groove that allows the guitar to carry it along with a thick pulsating riff. The chiseled solo runs etch into the song and polish it to a fine shine. Robin Trower's "In This Place" is not only a classic cover, but also a chance to hear Janey's voice paint a melodic canvas radiant with color. "Get You Off My Mind" and "Mission of Love" slow for impact with wickedly seductive playing and a midnight vocal that only means trouble.
Todd K. Smith (The Cutting Edge) (March 2010) www.cuttingedgerocks.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------
