Eric Bibb

03.18.2008 -- Review by: Ev Hodge

The opener, “Spirit I Am,” rocks hard with pointed questions that grab you by the ear – “What am I in this world to do?”.. or…“Lookin’ in the mirror, I’m asking, am I the change I long to see?” It’s one hot mix and Bibb shares writing credits with Frederik Bostrom.

Eric Bibb appears to effortlessly draw on the well-water of country blues, but this is most decidedly a contemporary production job, with polished performances, not back-porch. Another song impossible to ignore is “If Our Hearts Ain’t In It” which would fill any arena with a huge vibe as Bibb lays his blade into religious hypocrites; while the finest electric slide guitarist working – Bonnie Raitt – adds shimmering subtleties.

But then the man can turn out a small, quiet, intimate gem like “Pockets” which holds a very physical metaphysical conceit – that the most important pocket in any well-dressed man’s life is that pocket “in my heart for your love”.

Guitar understatement is Bibb’s style – shrewd, neat little riffs that do enough to push the rhythm along, nothing flashy but easy to lean on. Bibb also wears his own faith proudly, holding up gospel efforts that work – “Deep In My Soul” and Bonnie Raitt’s blessing also on “God’s Kingdom”; while “Stayed On Freedom” has great Sonny Terry-style harp from Grant Dermody.

But the warmest track here is “New Beale Street Blues” with its full horn section, organ, mandolin and acoustic bass beside Bibb’s 12-string blues guitar.
“Conversation” – what all great blues essentially is – is Ruthie Foster’s Woman telling Bibb’s working Man to remember where the word Couple comes in.
The song is a charmer with a great after-hours feel. Foster and Bibb toured the UK in 2004 and their friendship is audible in their duet. Eric Bibb’s European connections show how Blues has long been a state of mind rather than a geographical focus.

Producer Glenn Scott lends multi-instrumental talent on a project first sketched in Nashville and then glistened-up in Stockholm, Sweden, which Bibb has called home for more than 20 years.

Bibb, a true globetrotting ambassador of roots music, must be proud of this record – it’s a keeper.