Watermelon Slim hasn't worked with his backing band
the Workers since 2008, so this 2013 reunion is something of a big deal, and the old bluesman treats
Blue Goose Rooster as something of an event. During his time away from his backing band,
Slim cut some country, so he uses this lengthy album to consolidate all of his musical interests, dabbling in that driving hardcore country, but also old-fashioned folk hollers,
Woody Guthrie covers, a bit of gospel, and a whole lot of hard-charging roadhouse blues which, of course, is
the Workers' forte. As that high-octane blues kicks off the record, it first seems that
Blue Goose Rooster covers familiar ground, but by the time
Slim is duetting with
Trampled Under Foot's Danielle Schnebelen on the skeletal "Over the Horizon," it's clear that
Slim is taking chances. At times, his grizzled, toothless, close-miked voice can be somewhat wearying -- it is not as versatile as his music -- but it's hard to deny the restlessness and adventure that drives
Watermelon Slim, nor is it impossible to acknowledge the element that
the Workers bring to the equation on the varied
Bull Goose Rooster. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine