Welcome to BluesRow

Disclaimer — this CD isn’t strictly blues. There are definitely some bluesy elements on it, but I don’t usually review non-blues cd’s on BluesRow. But since they were nice enough to send me a review copy…

First, we’ll get the big secret out of the way: JD, of JD and the Straight Shot, is James Dolan, who in his spare time owns Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks(insert obligatory Knicks joke here). So this is a side project and evidently Dolan’s first foray into the record biz. Nothing to Hide is a nice mix of all kinds of music. I’d call it mostly roots with a jazzy flavor. The songs, most of them written by guitarist Bruce Koplow, deal with themes of loneliness, opportunities lost, world weariness, and in one notable instance, the overwhelming urge to kill barking dogs. I’m sure we can all relate.

So what can you say about a record by a major business person? Actually, it’s got some good stuff on it. My favorites are the first and last cuts, about as different as two songs can be. The first, The Ghost Takes Control, is a chilling take on child abuse and the long shadows it casts in a victim’s life. The instrumentation is sparse with some effective reverb guitar. The last song, Gonna Kill That Dog, is a straight-up blues romp about the new neighbor’s dog and its noctural barking. In between, the songs range from some jazzy meditations (Slow Motion in Reverse) to rock (So Cold). The lyrics are thoughtful and the band is laid-back but tight.

I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I have, but it’s getting some extended play in my CD changer.

Flatted Fifths: 3.5 out of 5

Genre: Roots, jazz, blues

Nutshell Review: Not earthshaking, but pleasant in a smoky nightclub kind of way.