"...the human word is like an outworn, battered timbal upon which we beat melodies fit for making bears dance when we are trying to move the stars to pity." -Flaubert

Which is my big ol' ham-fisted way of saying when it comes to Real Blues or what The Straight People (More Sugar!)call blues I ain't so sure I got my homework done enough to know what the heckfire i'm talkin' about. However in the spirit of MY Real Blues (and Mr.Cotton's) to hell with the damned stars and bring on the dancing bears!

I just finished listening to Chris Cotton's new CD titled I Watched The Devil Die. I'm awful sorry to say the best language I could come up with at the final note (without my usual swearing) was WOW! You'll be adding your own abundant and imaginative expletives after you hear it for your self. I'm at least honest enough to admit I know about enough about Piedmont style and other finger pickin' styles to keep my mouth half shut about Mr.Cotton's technical skill. On the other hand the fellow I work with is versed. His word as nail-hit-on-head upon listening was Exceptional! Most finger-pickin' sorts have sounded high-brow, tight and too pretty clean to my mud and woods tuned ears. Mr. Cotton despite his dangerous knowledge makes it roll out and around the ol' dirt road just as natural and rockin' as can be not forced faux and special. Mr. Cotton covers some of the masters works here. Mr. Willie McTell's Dyin'Crap Shooters Blues, The Mississippi Sheiks' That's it, and of course Mr's Hurt and James with Louis Collins and I'm So Glad. But this man's a fine songwriter too. Six of the twelve here are his and fit quite comfortably up against the old
timers. Each song sounds like it was played (not performed) at a late night pickin'party among good friends. The song Black Night sticks out for the help and heft of Mr. Big Jack Johnson's after-hours slide and as well for Mr. Cotton's xtra fine band's joyful playing on such a dark and menacing song. Mr. Jimbo Mathus' production here as usual brings you in to the room and sets you nicely in the hot seat front and center of the action goin' down live and naked and steamin' in the Mississippi midnite hour. I just gotta hope Yellow Dog Records P.R. Machine is fired up to overheatin' overdrive on this disc 'cuz if work this good isn't hailed in all the so called blues mags and beyond then sombody someplace ain't payin' attention.
Of course most folks don't Listen cuz they're too busy bein' dazzeled by the stars and wouldn't Hear great music if it was a dancing bear bitin' their ass.

I Watched the Devil Die is a great down-and-dirty blues album. Whether you're a blues enthusiast or new to the genre, this is a must-have album. A mix of original songs and covers, Chris brings his own flavor to to the set. Chris plucks the guitar with so much intensity he breaks strings, while his voice captures pain, desperation, and longing with true authenticity. The recordings sound live, not heavily mixed, making the album feel like an authentic down-and-dirty gem from a true bluesman.

As one of the privileged folks to get an advance preview of the new album, I just want to say, f***ing awesome! This is easily Chris' best album to date. Black Night is an absolute masterpiece of live blues. Yet the album is also breaking out of the restrictions of 12 bars into uncharted territory. It's a new Chris, yet beatifuly blended with the best of the old Chris. Vocally he covers new ground as well, like the heartfelt and soul stirring IM SO GLAD. I feel an autobiographical flavor to the new songs like Morgan, Mississippi or in Come On, where he admits to never having killed a man. I love it!Kind of reminded me of a rapper admitting he's not in a gang but he can still flow. All in all, a pleasure to listen to from the first track to the last. Keep up the good work and see you at the cd release party