New Blues Album from A Man Called Bruce Resonates with Sounds of the South

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Jan. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- In the past 13 months, A Man Called Bruce has performed in more than 30 cities in 9 states, including famous music meccas such as Austin, TX; Nashville and Memphis, TN; Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC.

During this same time, Bruce also released two albums - Americana Rocks and RESONATOR.

Americana Rocks was released November 2012 and includes nine rock-based Americana tunes. Except for a 90-second guitar solo by his old friend, Danny "P" Patterson (former Phunk Junkeez guitarist), Bruce plays all the instruments including guitars, drums, bass, harmonica and keys.

Last month, A Man Called Bruce's newest album RESONATOR was released worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers. These eleven songs are stripped down to their bones, with a rootsy intonation reflecting the vibrant musicality of the southeastern United States.

Although this isn't a "live" recording, the production closely replicates the sound of this middle-aged songwriter's live performances consisting of one guitar, harmonica and vocal. At times, it seems A Man Called Bruce is attempting to summon forth spirits of past blues legends. He doesn't succeed, but to his credit he manages to create a sonorousness that is distinctly his own. His voice is a blend somewhere between Gregg Allman and Bob Dylan. Not polished, but sincere and in tune like the former, rather than the latter.

RESONATOR’s songs are honest and straight-forward, which is something the previous album lacked. This honesty, coupled with a simple, but capable interpretation of American blues makes listening to most of RESONATOR enjoyable. A Man Called Bruce appears to have hit the mark. The stories sound real and his passion is obvious.

The album starts with a 53-second blues instrumental featuring harmonica accompanied by the iron-body resonator guitar for which the album is aptly named. This uncomplicated, melodic intro is the beginning of the song If I Was Not a Sinner. When the vocals start, he sings, "Well, I like country music. I like rock n' roll. I like sippin' whisky, but I get out of control." This isn't lyrical genius comparable to the likes of Tom Waits or John Lennon, but what do you expect? This IS the blues. The chorus offers no change to this simple rhetoric, "If I was not a sinner and you were not a saint, we might get together, honey, but I guess we ain't. You could be a sinner only for one night. We would have a real good time and in the morning make it right." And, there it is… the comparitively dark humor found in much of A Man Called Bruce's lyrical style. Another example of this humor follows after the first chorus in the very next verse, "It's just my opinion, but I think you're hot." Clearly, a back-handed compliment! But, because the delivery is sincere it sounds like a genuine felicitation.

A few other notable songs on RESONATOR include: I Got My Eye On You (another fun, solid blues tune) and River, Take Me Home which is an American roots-style ballad whose brief harmonica melodies conjure images of an old steamboat paddling slowly along the Mississippi.

In contrast, not all the songs on this album are worthwhile. Friday Night, the last song on the album, sounds derivative of kitschy country songs that try hard to rock, but in the end really don't.

However, with its roots firmly planted in the blues, RESONATOR displays noteworthy songwriting ability, as well as the competent musicianship of A Man Called Bruce.

Visit http://AManCalledBruce.com or follow him at http://facebook.com/AManCalledBruce for info on tour dates, etc. Check out https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/a-man-called-bruce/id408419374 to download music from iTunes.