Evangeline is Blind Lemon Pledge’s latest album, and captures a wide variety of styles and approaches over the album’s 10 tracks. Buley’s Farm is a very emotive and authoritative track that touches upon a much earlier blues and folk tradition. Each constituent element that contributes to this track (stomping, guitar, harmonica) is on-point. The multiple vocal harmony provides considerable energy to this track, ensuring that listeners stick with Evangeline. Jennie Bell is a more straight-forward track that would do well on alternative rotation; the dulcet tones of BLP’s vocals here are pushed to a higher plateau with deftly-crafted guitar lines. The production present during this track allows for a close and cozy feel to wash over listeners.
Go Jump the Willie is a blend of doo-wop and rockabilly, settling in quite nicely to a fifties sound. The guitar work is immaculate, dovetailing nicely to the jazz-infused piano; the dynamic between the vocals, piano, guitar, and drums here makes for a very dense and complex track that will require multiple listens to properly get everything that is happening.
How Can I Still Love You is one of Evangeline’s longest tracks, a decision that allows all of BLP’s band ample opportunity to shine. The soulful R&B that issues forth when one listens to this track is honest and absolutely effecting, sticking around long after the track concludes. You Had Me at Goodbye is a solid late-disc inclusion, keeping the overall spirit of the disc high as the title begins to spin to a close. Evangeline is available at CDBaby and iTunes. Visit BLP’s website for more information about Evangeline and the rest of his discography.
Top Tracks: Go Jump the Willie, How Can I Still Love You
Rating: 8.7/10
Blind Lemon Pledge Evangeline CD Review / 2014 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.blues.james-creative.com/
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
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