After nearly four decades at his craft, one cannot say that George Thorogood hasn\u2019t dedicated his life to the blues.<\/p>\n
He could have been a mega-star, having tasted fame with \u201cBad To The Bone,\u201d if he had just compromised his music and image to keep up with popular fickle tastes. But Thorogood has refused to do so, remaining focused instead on crafting a style of \u201cget up and party\u201d blues that not only gets people to tap their feet, but that also pays tribute to the roots of the music that Thorogood plays.<\/p>\n
His latest disc, 2120 South Michigan Avenue<\/i>, is proof of his dedication to his roots, as he and the Destroyers launch themselves into a collection of songs made famous by the artists of Chess Records. This album doesn\u2019t break any new ground, though I don\u2019t believe that was his primary concern, but it does help to introduce classic blues to a new generation while staying fairly true to the original songs.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s face it \u2013 anyone who takes on a rock and roll classic like \u201cBo Diddley\u201d knows they\u2019re fighting an uphill battle, as that particular song is so ingrained in the memories of rock fans. Thorogood wisely tries neither to replay the song note-for-note nor reinvent it. Instead, he follows the basic backbone of the song (complete with the jangling guitar lines) while putting just enough of his own unique spin on things. The end result, while not as good as the original, is a respectful take that stands well on its own.<\/p>\n
The same can be said for many of the covers on this disc. Thorogood sounds like he\u2019s thisclose to completely tearing things up on \u201cSeventh Son\u201d (which is meant as a compliment), while he nearly does hit note-for-note his version of \u201cHigh Heel Sneakers\u201d (complete with guitar work from Buddy Guy that, at times, feels like it\u2019s too energetic for the song). Some of the lesser-known songs that might send the kids running to the library or iTunes to check out older Chess recordings include \u201cTwo Trains Running,\u201d \u201cHelp Me\u201d (which is possibly the hidden gem of this collection) and \u201cMy Babe\u201d(featuring harmonica work from Charlie Musselwhite).<\/p>\n
With all respect to Thorogood as a singer, perhaps the best track on 2120 South Michigan Avenue<\/i> is the instrumental title track, which gives all the musicians (including Musselwhite) plenty of room to stretch their legs and showcase their talents. <\/p>\n
Of the two originals on this disc, \u201cWillie Dixon\u2019s Gone\u201d is the better of the batch, turning into less of a mourning song and more of a playful remembering the past track. \u201cGoing Back\u201d isn\u2019t a bad song in comparison, but doesn\u2019t have the same kind of punch that even some of the covers do.<\/p>\n