Good Intentions Gone Bad
Artist: Chris Cain
Label: Alligator Records
Released: 2024
Number of Tracks: 13
Duration: 51:00
Website: https://www.chriscainmusic.com/
Review by Mixmaster Linc, Programmer, KKFI 90.1 FM Community Radio Station
Who says you can’t learn things from reading and questioning what you thought you knew?
To prepare for this album review, I listened to the album, went to the artist’s website, and read other reviews I could find online. Chris Cain is an excellent guitarist and vocalist, but when I learned that he taught jazz improvisation in college, it caused me to re-examine his guitar playing. Now, I’m a guy who loves both jazz and blues, but I rarely thought of the lines blurring, and I generally heard a distinctive sound to jazz guitar that I never associated with blues guitar, however, I suddenly noticed characteristics in Cain’s note clarity and resonance that I don’t remember hearing on blues recordings before. Cain’s tone reminded me a lot of B.B. King on the surface, but beneath that, I was reminded of jazz and jazz fusion stalwart Eric Gale. If you don’t know Gale (not to be confused with left-handed guitar slinger Eric Gales), check out his solo work on Grover Washington, Jr.’s “Mister Magic.” The pure clarion note quality defies the raw rip I normally associate with the blues, but it is definitely beautiful in its own right.
The thirteen songs on this album are all original compositions, with “Still Drinking Straight Tequila” and “Blues for My Dad” being particularly autobiographical. The songs range from rollicking romps backed by horns, to straight blues slow burners. Included in the slow burners are my two personal favorites, “Bad Dream” and “Never Let You Break My Heart”.
The musicianship on the album is first rate throughout, and Cain’s vocals are eerily reminiscent of mid-career B.B. King. King was definitely one of Cain’s idols growing up, but when I listen back to a 1995 Chris Cain song from a Blind Pig compilation, I can see that this virtual King impersonation is something that he has gained with the years.
I give Good Intentions Gone Bad 4 stars out of 5.
Hear for yourself: Listen to samples on Alligator Records’ site
