Album Review: Wrong Side of the Blues

Artist:  Trampled Under Foot

# of Plays on My iTunes:  66

Released:  2011

I’ve been hoping for a new album from the young Kansas City blues trio Trampled Under Foot for quite some time, and here it is, the new Wrong Side of the Blues!  Deserving winners of the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in 2008, siblings Danielle (vocals, bass), Nick (guitar, vocals), and Kris (drums, vocals) Schnebelen continue to offer intense, virtuosic, rockin’ blues while showing growth in their songwriting, producing an album that is more polished than its predecessor while still retaining a strong sense of the bluesy roughness that makes both albums so appealing.

While the spotlight never wavers from the Schnebelen trio, the band has brought in several great talents to add to the fullness of the album.  Major contributions come from Tony Braunagel, Mike Finnegan, and Johnny Lee Schell, who have all worked together in the Phantom Blues Band while also playing with the likes of Etta James, Taj Mahal, and Bonnie Raitt.  Braunagel, a Texas drummer currently with Robert Cray’s band, does an excellent job as producer and also lends his noteworthy songwriting talents, co-writing eight of the twelve songs with Trampled Under Foot.  Kansas Music Hall of Famer Finnegan fills out the band on organ and piano on half the songs, while Schell shines on slide guitar on “Evil Train,” and also serves as a studio engineer.  Kim Wilson of Fabulous Thunderbirds fame adds his muscular harmonica to the song “She’s Long, She’s Tall, She’s Gone.”  Proving that Trampled Under Foot’s status as a family band extends beyond its main members, father Bob Schnebelen pens two songs, “Evil Train” and “It Would Be Nice,” while mother Lisa Swedlund sings backing vocals for Danielle on the spirited opener “Get It Straight” and the title track.

The new album is a treasure-trove of great songs.  The CD opens with four solid blues-rockers, and Danielle’s commanding vocal is superb on “Wrong Side of the Blues,” but it is the middle and later part of the album where things get really exciting.  It starts with the song “Goodbye,” a sad, soulful number in which Danielle’s singing really shines, followed by the cool “Heart on the Line.”  “The Fool” begins with a gripping call and response between Nick’s guitar and Finnegan’s organ, building to a climax with Nick’s roaring vocal.  With his gruff voice, Nick can sound downright scary at times, and he certainly does on “The Fool,” even though it is toned down from the terrifying boogie “Johnny Cheat” which appeared their debut album.  “Have a Real Good Time,” is a fun rocker with biographical lyrics and a title that describes what you’ll do if you attend one of their live shows.  Kris lays down a great, pumping rhythm on drums, Finnegan’s piano adds to the energy, and Nick and Danielle both sing.  “Evil Train” opens with Nick singing over some haunting slidework from Schell on the cigar box guitar, then the compelling vocal harmony on the last verse speeds things up for Schell’s awesome solo.  “Just Tell Yourself” and the deeply bluesy “It Would Be Nice” are also excellent.  The only number which falls short is “The Better Life,” which is not a bad song, but relies too heavily on pop influences to really fit in with the bluesy intensity of the rest of the CD.

Trampled Under Foot is an extremely talented band, and we are lucky to have them so close to us in Kansas City.  With Wrong Side of the Blues, they have proven what we were already sure of:  This band is the real deal, and they are continuing to grow and play great music while remaining true to their blues roots.  I would recommend this CD and any of their others, and I would also recommend keeping an eye on their touring schedule in case they are playing nearby.

Track listing:

1.  Get It Straight—3:44

2.  Bad Woman Blues—3:28

3.  Wrong Side of the Blues—5:05

4.  She’s Long, She’s Tall, She’s Gone—4:01

5.  Goodbye—6:05

6.  Heart on the Line—4:22

7.  The Fool—6:00

8.  Have a Real Good Time—3:48

9.  Just Tell Yourself—3:10

10.  Evil Train—4:24

11.  It Would Be Nice—4:07

12.  The Better Life—3:50

Amazon MP3 Clips

            Trampled Under Foot will be at the new Juntion City Blues and Barbeque Festival on October 1 and Blues Masters at the Crossroads in Salina on October 21.  Check out the concerts page for updates and additional information.