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Album Details

• Artist: Kelly Joe Phelps
• Album: Tunesmith Retrofit
• Label: Rounder
• Year of Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2006-09-06

The ever-consistent Kelly Joe Phelps releases yet another decent albums of folky-blues tinged with pop sensibilities. Tunesmith Retrofit is just as consistent with a dozen awesome displays of guitar dexterity. He has moved a little more away from his signature slide guitar sound that we got on his earlier albums into a much more homestyle guitar sound. The albums starts out with a good indication of what's to come: "Crow's Nest" is a good introduction into Tunesmith Retrofit. He even brings a very cool banjo tune to the table, "Handful of Arrows" shows that he's not just a one-trick-pony. After listening to this album I really want to see Kelly Joe Phelps live. I think these songs would easily translate into a lovely solo performance. This Portland based songwriter shows that he will be around for years to come. And while I don't know if you need all of his albums, a few deserve to be in every roots fan's collection.

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