With
Doyle Bramhall II, the bluesman continues to move deeper into soul, which isn't surprising considering that
Wendy & Lisa,
Prince's collaborators during the mid-'80s, produced it. While there is still a distinct bluesy bent to his guitar playing, the material is more soul-oriented and polished than before, which will initially alienate some of his contemporary blues fans. However, the album shows considerable musical invention and skill, particularly during its instrumental passages. It's just unfortunate that it loses momentum due to inconsistent songwriting. ~ Thom Owens