The Reverend Shawn Amos - The Cause Of It All

PUT TOGETHER MUSIC

£12.58

Cat. no: PTM20
Format: CD
Barcode: 5056495326762
Release Date: 28th May 2021
Genre: Blues

The Cause of It All is The Revs’ new stripped-down collection of blues classics, forged in quarantine with longtime guitarist Chris “Doctor” Roberts.

The timing couldn’t be better. Pared down to their essence, these songs speak to our shared sense of vulnerability and isolation, but with the joyful, contagious swagger that has long borne bluesmen - and their listeners - through trouble, into the light.

The Cause of It All, the Reverend’s 4th studio album (Shawn Amos’ 8th), arrives a year after Blue Sky, his full-band outing with the Brotherhood - including drummer Brady Blade and bassist Christopher Thomas. Even as lockdown commenced, Blue Sky hit #6 on the Billboard Blues Album chart and nabbed a 4-star review in American Songwriter.

“There’s a bravery I wanted to capture,” the Rev says of the platters that inspired The Cause of It All masterworks from icons like Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, and Little Walter. “I wanted to bring back a spontaneity that’s been lost.” The Rev executes his most assured vocals and harp playing yet, radiating within spartan arrangements that percolate with Dr. Roberts’ unique, deeply sympathetic, snaky electric and acoustic stylings.

“Quarantine was the perfect opportunity to do this,” the Rev says. After an embrace of Chicago blues on his debut The Reverend Shawn Amos Loves You, more Delta vibes for The Reverend Shawn Amos Breaks it Down, and finally an expansion into singersongwriter territory with Blue Sky, the timing is just right for The Cause of It All.

Not only because it’s a box the Reverend Shawn Amos needed to check, but because it shows the power of elemental blues to soothe, entertain, and embolden folks who long for a lone, joyful, steadfast voice in the dark. Now more than ever.

Tracks: Spponful (Willie Dixon) / Goin’ To The Church (Lester Butller) / Still A Fool (muddy Waters) / Color And Kind (howlin’ Wolf) / Serves Me Right To Suffer (john Lee Hooker) / I’m Ready (willie Dixon) / Baby Please Don’t Go (traditional) / Can’t Hold Out Much Longer (Little Walter) / Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters) / Little Anna Mae (muddy Waters)

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