The Steepwater Band – Grace And Melody
Diamond Day Records
http://www.myspace.com/thesteepwaterband

Rating: B+

The Steepwater Band definitely aren’t newcomers on the blues rock scene having formed in Chicago back in 1998. The trio comprised of guitarist / vocalist Jeff Massey, bassist Tod Bowers and drummer Joe Winters has not only been touring from coast to coast in the United States over the years but they’ve also been building up support over in Europe as well. They’ve been embraced by the jam based community and now their latest album Grace And Melody has them firmly poised to take things global.

Produced by ex-Black Crowes guitarist and solo artist Marc Ford and recorded over the course of nine days, Grace And Melody serves up a heaping dose of greasy sounding blues based rock that sounds incredibly organic. Ford not only produced this record but in many ways he acts like the fourth member of the band by co-writing two tracks and sitting in on almost every song as well. The impressive power and swing of this well established rhythm section of Bowers and Winters should not be underestimated as they lay down the mighty backbone for Massey’s remarkable and seemingly unlimited arsenal of dirty licks. If you’re looking for highlights or stand out tracks, how about every single one of these eleven, richly layered compositions. The album’s centerpiece though has to be the epic thirteen minute “Waiting To Be Offended”. This track sounds like it was knocked off in one take and the fireworks between Ford and Massey are absolutely electric. The sound is fleshed out nicely and given added color (as are quite a few tracks) by guest musician Mike Malone who turns in some sparkling work on the Fender Rhodes piano as the two guitarists push each other to the brink with a series of trade off solos that sound as ragged and spontaneous as vintage Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

Grace And Melody is the most accomplished and complete recording the band has turned in to date and if they stopped recording today this could easily stand as their masterpiece. Ford played a major part in helping them realize their vision and this has definitely taken their music to the next level. If you’re a fan of good old fashioned blues based classic rock then you owe it to yourself to get behind them and show your support because quite honestly music just doesn’t get too much better than this.

-Ryan Sparks