Edgar Winter CD Review
Edgar Winter
Rebel Road
Airline Records
****
It’s somehow fitting that Edgar Winter has called his latest release REBEL ROAD. After all that’s pretty much the musical path he’s trod for 35 years.
It’s debatable just how much of a compliment this is, but Edgar Winter is
now surely a bona fide blues rock institution and REBEL ROAD is a
tub-thumping, kick in the guts expression of that. Edgar Winter doesn’t
compromise and never has.
But it’s not all blood curdling guitar riffs, The Closer I Get - written for
his wife of 29 years - shows a depth of compassion and soul but, ballad or
not, it still commands 100% of Edgar Winter. Edgar Winter doesn’t do things
by halves and never has.
But if there is a trademark Edgar Winter, it surely lies in the likes of
Power Of Positive Drinking, and Do It Again, songs that come with an inbuilt
supply of testosterone.
Joining Edgar on REBEL ROAD is his equally legendary brother Johnny (Rockin’
The Blues), ex-Guns n Roses guitarist Slash (Rebel Road) and country
superstar Clint Black (Power Of Positive Drinkin’ and Horns Of A Dilemma).
Proof if proof were needed that Edgar Winter is woven into the very fabric
of modern American music, whatever the genre.
And as if to cement his place, he is set to join Ringo Starr and his
All-Starr band on the road again this year. Winter’s admiration for all
things fab four is sealed with Peace and Love, a homage to the one-time mop
tops.
But at the heart of REBEL ROAD is the spicy Southern stew of blues, rock and
country that ignites Texas Tornado. Four decades on and Edgar Winter’s flame
shows little sign of dimming.
The man himself declares “what’s missing in music today is not only real
rock ‘n’ roll, but the Southern rock that Johnny and I grew up playing in
Texas.” Well, it’s not missing any longer. Michael Mee