OLI BROWN
''HERE I AM''
APRIL 23 2012
51:23
1/Here I Am
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:07
2/Thinking About Her
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/3:48
3/Manic Bloom
Oli Brown/4:01
4/All We Had to Give
Oli Brown/3:41
5/You Can Only Blame Yourself
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:32
6/Start It Again
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/3:44
7/Devil in Me
Oli Brown/4:30
8/I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Al Kooper/7:05
9/Remedy
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:20
10/Mr. Wilson
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:04
11/Like a Feather
Nikka Costa / Mark Ronson / Justin Stanley/3:56
12/Solid Ground
Oli Brown/3:35
Scott Barnes /Bass
Oli Brown /Guitar, Vocals
Paul Jones Guest Artist, Harmonica
Wayne Proctor Drums, Percussion
Joel White Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond)
Dani Wilde Guest Artist, Vocals
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
"Ain't trying to be no Jimi or Stevie/I want to be my G-damned self," proclaims up and coming U.K. blues rocker Oli Brown on the lead-off title track to his third release. He follows up that defiant declamation with a shuffle that nicks the lick from Vaughan's "Cold Shot" on the derivative "Thinking About Her." Whether he realizes that or not, it's a good indication that there aren't many guitar players bringing new or fresh ideas to the table in this genre. Just 22 when this album was released in 2012, you can forgive Brown for his youthful enthusiasm, especially when there is so much energy exuding from these dozen tracks, all but two self-composed. Like many of his peers, he whips off some solid riff rockers such as "Manic Boom" and "Devil in Me," and a convincing enough Chuck Berry lick in "Start It Again" with skill and talent. His boyish vocals are charming if not quite as edgy as some of his angrier lyrics about lost love require, even if he did win Best Male Vocalist at the 2010 British Blues Awards. Brown can write a hummable, soulful melody, as on the ballad "All We Had to Give"; it's as good as any pop song on the charts with the extra enticement of a tasty guitar solo. But a reasonably hot cover of Al Kooper's Blood, Sweat & Tears gem "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" points out that nothing here is up to that song's quality. Too much of Brown's material just isn't unique or powerful enough to break him free from others plying similar territory who can also sling out a strong guitar lick and write good, not great, material. When he gets down and somewhat dirty on the swampy "You Can Only Blame Yourself" and a bit funky on "Remedy," he's staking out more fertile area. There isn't really enough of that, though, to make this the album that will elevate his status, especially in the States, where he is another also-ran in a crowded field trying to establish himself among many similarly talented musicians.
BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
Blues guitarist and singer Oli Brown made his recording debut at age 17 with Open Road, released June 9, 2008, by Ruf Records. He toured Europe, opening British tours by Johnny Winter, Walter Trout, and Robben Ford. In 2010, he was part of the New Generation Blues Tour of Europe with labelmate Joanne Shaw Taylor and made his debut at the Glastonbury Festival. These performances were in support of his second album, Heads I Win Tails You Lose, produced by blues veteran Mike Vernon, who came out of retirement to work with Brown. The album was released in Europe on April 26, 2010, and in the U.S. on July 13, 2010.
''HERE I AM''
APRIL 23 2012
51:23
1/Here I Am
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:07
2/Thinking About Her
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/3:48
3/Manic Bloom
Oli Brown/4:01
4/All We Had to Give
Oli Brown/3:41
5/You Can Only Blame Yourself
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:32
6/Start It Again
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/3:44
7/Devil in Me
Oli Brown/4:30
8/I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
Al Kooper/7:05
9/Remedy
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:20
10/Mr. Wilson
Oli Brown / Ron Sayer/4:04
11/Like a Feather
Nikka Costa / Mark Ronson / Justin Stanley/3:56
12/Solid Ground
Oli Brown/3:35
Scott Barnes /Bass
Oli Brown /Guitar, Vocals
Paul Jones Guest Artist, Harmonica
Wayne Proctor Drums, Percussion
Joel White Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond)
Dani Wilde Guest Artist, Vocals
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
"Ain't trying to be no Jimi or Stevie/I want to be my G-damned self," proclaims up and coming U.K. blues rocker Oli Brown on the lead-off title track to his third release. He follows up that defiant declamation with a shuffle that nicks the lick from Vaughan's "Cold Shot" on the derivative "Thinking About Her." Whether he realizes that or not, it's a good indication that there aren't many guitar players bringing new or fresh ideas to the table in this genre. Just 22 when this album was released in 2012, you can forgive Brown for his youthful enthusiasm, especially when there is so much energy exuding from these dozen tracks, all but two self-composed. Like many of his peers, he whips off some solid riff rockers such as "Manic Boom" and "Devil in Me," and a convincing enough Chuck Berry lick in "Start It Again" with skill and talent. His boyish vocals are charming if not quite as edgy as some of his angrier lyrics about lost love require, even if he did win Best Male Vocalist at the 2010 British Blues Awards. Brown can write a hummable, soulful melody, as on the ballad "All We Had to Give"; it's as good as any pop song on the charts with the extra enticement of a tasty guitar solo. But a reasonably hot cover of Al Kooper's Blood, Sweat & Tears gem "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" points out that nothing here is up to that song's quality. Too much of Brown's material just isn't unique or powerful enough to break him free from others plying similar territory who can also sling out a strong guitar lick and write good, not great, material. When he gets down and somewhat dirty on the swampy "You Can Only Blame Yourself" and a bit funky on "Remedy," he's staking out more fertile area. There isn't really enough of that, though, to make this the album that will elevate his status, especially in the States, where he is another also-ran in a crowded field trying to establish himself among many similarly talented musicians.
BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
Blues guitarist and singer Oli Brown made his recording debut at age 17 with Open Road, released June 9, 2008, by Ruf Records. He toured Europe, opening British tours by Johnny Winter, Walter Trout, and Robben Ford. In 2010, he was part of the New Generation Blues Tour of Europe with labelmate Joanne Shaw Taylor and made his debut at the Glastonbury Festival. These performances were in support of his second album, Heads I Win Tails You Lose, produced by blues veteran Mike Vernon, who came out of retirement to work with Brown. The album was released in Europe on April 26, 2010, and in the U.S. on July 13, 2010.
