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It always amazes me when artists change up their music and still manage come out with a simply brilliant sound. Such is the case with Hard Garden, a newly formed trio that hail out of Seattle, Washington, consisting of Son Jack Jr., (Guitar/Vocals/Bass), Michael Wilde (Harp/Vocals), and Garrett Williams (Guitar/Percussion/Bass/Keys). Son Jack Jr., and Michael Wilde had previously released the critically acclaimed album "Walk The Talk" in 2010, an album which had no problem getting my nod as Best USA Blues Album in my 2010 Year End Review and #2 on my 2010 Top 10 Albums List. "Blue Yonder" marks Son Jack Jr. and Michael Wilde's debut release as Hard Garden, and although still only January of 2014, as I write this review, I got a pretty good feeling that this beauty will still be a mighty big consideration for me come Year End Review and Top 10 List time. According to Hard Garden's website, "the concept behind the Hard Garden project is to bring forward all that’s appealing and meaningful about deep blues and give it a more contemporary feel. The blues is not unlike an old plot of land that was once fertile but has suffered from neglect over the years, and become a hard garden". "Blue Yonder" consists of 11 really infectiously sounding Tracks, 7 written by Son Jack Jr., 2 written by Michael Wilde, 1 written by Garrett Williams, and 1 cover of Son House's called "Depot Blues". "Blue Yonder" was Produced by Son Jack Jr., Michael Wilde, and Garrett Williams, with Williams also stepping in as Engineer. Tim Scudder also gets credit for the Track 11 ReMix. "Blue Yonder" starts the ball rolling with "I Feel Evil", a somewhat laid back easy listening shuffle, that introduces us to the great Vocals of Son Jack Jr., the great harp work of Michael Wilde, and the mighty fine percussion work of Garrett Williams. Nothing out of the ordinary here, just a mighty fine done blues song. If nothing out of the ordinary, is where "I Feel Evil" started, it is also where nothing out of the ordinary stops, as Track 2 "Depot Blues", is where what the sound that is Hard Garden, really starts to take hold, as they get a great groove going around the 45 second mark of this beauty and really never stop as they present us with a beat, that although it is the Blues, it would also rock the floor at any modern nightclub, with it's Electronic Music feel. "Blue Yonder" has no problem conjuring up a bountiful display of unique Tracks, with Track 3 "Hey Now Mary", channeling a nice Hill Country feel ala Fife and Drum. Track 4 "Papa's In The Juke Joint" continues in that vein, but this time it also throws in a little Rap feel to the mix. The next 4 Tracks on "Blue Yonder", "I Can Tell", "The Valley", "Dangerous", and "Pour Me Another", were actually my favorites and had not only brought a varied mix of genres to the table, but also included a couple that told really fine stories, most notably, "The Valley", which dealt with an abandoned child and his suicidal mother explaining, "It'll All Be Better When I'm Gone", and my favorite of them all, "Pour Me Another", described as a Hilarious, Funky, "Shaggy Dog Story about a talking dog in a bar". The commentary is told in English Bloke style and in between the talking we have Michael Wilde playing some mean Harp, with Garrett Williams doing some nice work on Keys. A great tune that will surely bring you a few big smiles and more than a few hits on the replay button. The album closes out nicely with 3 remaining Tracks that take us even deeper into the realm of Electronic Blues, ending with Track 7 "Dangerous", returning in a more hip remix. All in all, I found "Blue Yonder" to be a very entertaining and very fresh sounding contemporary form of the Blues, which took essential elements of real Blues and brought them out into the open with the addition of a Electronic beat. This is really amazing stuff and I commend Hard Garden for taking the chance and making this very creative album. 5***** for "Blue Yonder". Thoroughly Enjoyed and Highly Recommended. Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) Listen To Samples Here... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hardgarden2 Additional Artist Info... http://www.hardgardenmusic.com/
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