Rough News

by Jeff CrookeWith much of the backing personnel returning from Charlie Musselwhite's outstanding 1993 Alligator release In My Time, a mediocre follow-up album would be unexpected. Yet something is missing from this Pointblank release, aside from the extensive liner notes. Musselwhite's voice is not as casual, his band not as loose, and the end result is an album that at times seems too formulaic. He undoubtedly still has a set of the best harp chops in the business, but the moments that rise to the top from this CD (such as the instrumental title track) are much less frequent than listeners spoiled by In My Time may care for.