This disc by
John Mooney stretches his boundaries without compromising his music at all. He adds some New Orleans rhythm & blues/funk to the solid, deep Delta blues foundation on which his music is based. It works yet he doesn't seem quite comfortable with it all yet even though he wrote nine of the 13 songs (some of his strongest songs yet). Of course, he has enlisted some of the finest, such as
Dr. John to plink the ivories, and some friendly familiar faces like Jeff Sarli on bass, to assist him in this endeavor. This is more a group-orientated effort and it is excellent in that respect, however, that means
Mooney's guitar work is not as prominent in the mix and, thus, it requires more attention by the listener because he has not lost any of his ferocity at all. His guitar playing is some of the most savage and ferocious ever. A big plus on this disc is
Mooney's singing because he is sounding more comfortable each time out and he has a voice perfectly matched in passion to the raw and fervid nature of his Delta-based material. Even his R&B is anchored in the mud of the mighty river that feeds the area. The blues are associated with the devil and passion and if you are dealing with the devil it is assumed you generally wind up down in Hell. What many people forget is that the same passion that can take you down to Hell can also raise you up to Heaven. The disc is titled
Gone to Hell, and it is filled with the fierceness that takes you on the express train to whatever your destination. Where ever
John Mooney is going he is riding that express with the type of dedication that is a force and fury that show a total dedication and must be reckoned with. A must for all interested in the blues and honest music that is played from the heart. ~ Bob Gottlieb