Patrick McLaughlin – Patrick McLaughlin (2011)

1. Working Hard
2. I’ve Got You				play
3. Which Way To Go			play
4. Make Up Your Mind
5. Burn A Little Brighter
6. Never Crossed My Mind
7. More To Life Than This
8. Motion of Emotion
9. Fathers and Sons
10. Ready Set Leave
11. One More

Personnel: 
Patrick McLaughlin (vocals, guitar); 
Gary Williams (drums, background vocals).

The Blues is getting up there in age. No longer is there a mystique about this “devil’s music’ that accompanied it in the past. Players such as Robert Johnson used to be followed by controversy for their lyrics, playing and supposed packs with the devil. But, generations of Bluesmen have followed in Johnson’s footsteps, bringing the genre into the mainstream and carving out niches and subgenre’s of Blues along the way. After players such as B.B. King, Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan left their unique mark on the modern Blues guitar genre, newcomers to the idiom are left with two options to solidify their careers, come up with a totally new take on the Blues, or dig deep into the traditional and play the existing style with as much bravado, dedication, heart and soul as they can.

Columbus, Ohio guitarist Patrick McLaughlin is a player and songwriter who falls directly into this latter category. He isn’t out to reinvent the wheel, but as one can hear on his self-titled album, he is a dedicated Bluesman who knows how to write and play in the traditional Blues genre with the best of them. These eleven tracks are not going to shock traditional Blues fans, or take the genre in a new groundbreaking direction, but they are going to satisfy the appetites of even the most dedicated fan of the genre.

Songs such as “I’ve Got You,” are a prime example of McLaughlin’s deep understanding of the Blues and how to use the emotional content of his lyrics and guitar work to engage his audience in a very deep way. Keeping things simple lyric-wise, McLaughlin lets his guitar take control between vocal phrases. He then lets loose on a classic, distorted guitar solo that brings to mind many of the giants of the genre. There is nothing fancy or controversial about what McLaughlin does on this track. But, what he does do is lay down a fat groove, tasty guitar licks and simple yet effective vocal lines, everything a Blues track needs to be successful.

McLaughlin moves over the minor, darker side of the blues on his killer track “There’s More to Life Than This.” The track features some of the album’s best guitar work, including interesting palm-muted riffs that intertwine with the melody, adding an extra layer of interest to both the guitar soloing and the song as a whole. The solo on this track itself also stands out as one of the album’s biggest highlights. McLaughlin uses space, emotional clarity and some nifty right-hand raking techniques to draw the listener in, keeping them glued to his guitar until the last note fades out of the speaker into the night.

The ballad “Ready, Set, Leave” is another example of McLaughlin’s deep understanding of the Blues tradition. His vocal melody, phrasing and guitar work are reminiscent of some of the best of the slow blues tracks of years gone by. The 12/8 shuffle that’s slowly moving under the harmony and melody help keep a steady pulse as the guitar and vocals dig deep into the listener’s emotions, grabbing their attention and allowing them to get full glimpse of McLaughlin’s artistic soul.

Overall, Patrick McLaughlin is a solid release by the talented guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. This record is not going to turn the Blues world on its head, but it will deliver an entertaining hour of music that any fan of the traditional Blues genre can enjoy. Tired of listening to the same albums time and again when a Blues craving hits? Check out McLaughlin’s new album, it won’t disappoint. --- Matthew Warnock, powerpresskits.com

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