Ross Neilsen Band - Resurrection (2013)

According to Wikipedia, "Resurrection (anglicized from Latin resurrectio) is the concept of a living being coming back to life after death." It is the word that Ross Neilsen used as the title of his newest album and it is confusing to me why he would use that word, because Ross Neilsen, in all of his incarnations as a Solo artist, with The Sufferin' Bastards, and now with the Ross Neilsen Band, has never gotten to any point where his music needed any form of Resurrection. His music has always been nothing but full and alive an no less than totally invigorating to listen to.

"Resurrection" is another one of a handful of Albums I receive each year that are not very easy to review, simply because of the fact that they are just to damn entertaining and therefore I find myself straying from typing the review and being continually drawn into the great tunes.

"Resurrection" sees Ross Neilsen in yet another incarnation, this time with a new band called Ross Neilsen Band. Along for the amazing ride this time, was fellow The Sufferin' Bastards Drummer Karl Gans, as well as the new cast of Jim "The Temp" Guitar (Bass), Warren Riker (Guitar/Tambourine), Justin Tocket (Back Up Vocals), and the great Anders Osborne (Guitars/Vocals/Percussion/B3), whom was also the Producer on "Resurrection".

"Resurrection" consists of 10 ripping Tracks of mostly intense Blues Rock that will take you back to the great Blues Rock days of the late 60's and early 70's. Ross Neilsen's delirious pace of song writing, has certainly not slowed down with "Resurrection", as he solely wrote 9 of the Tracks and co-wrote the remaining 1 Track with Shawn Worden and Jim Sullivan.

The album itself, clocks in at a respectable 47+ minutes and really is a barn burner affair right from the opening Track, leaving little if any room for a break and when you do come across the odd slower Track, it still comes off as being just as intense, especially the last Track, "Juanita", which clocks in at 10:39, and has fuzzy Neil Young Guitar written all over it. Track 8 "Lay Down No More", is another great slower Track done pure Acoustic which I believe is just Ross Neilsen and his Guitar, and reminded me a lot of his previous album, "The Shack Up Sessions", which was a Solo album recorded at the Robert Clay Shack at the Shack Up Inn just outside Clarksdale, Mississippi.

With all the intense Blues Rock feel on "Resurrection", there was one Track that caught me off guard and that was Track 5 "Ain't Like That", a song that had Country written all over it, yet a song that I still totally enjoyed. For a few moments it brought a "And Now For Something Completely Different" atmosphere to the album, which really did not seem out of place at all. A great toe tapper of a Track, for sure.

Some are hesitant in calling this particular album Ross Neilsen's Masterpiece, because of the fact that he is so damned talented, and they believe that the absolute Masterpiece is not far off. They are all though, including myself, on board with the fact that "Resurrection" is a totally amazing album and certainly one of his best, if not his best album, to date.

After listening to "Resurrection" a few times now, I am left with the feeling that choosing my favorite Canadian Blues Rock album, at the end of the year, has just gotten significantly harder, with this Album very quickly jumping into the short list of contenders, for what has already been a stellar year for Canadian releases, and it is only the beginning of May.

5*****, for sure, for "Resurrection"... Not one to be missed for lovers of great Blues Rock and Beyond...

Absolutely amazing work from Ross Neilsen and Company. So proud to be a Canadian with such amazing talent all around us.

Prime Cuts... Track 1 "When My Trouble's Gone", Track 3 "Walk On By", and Track 6 "Heartbreak Apart"... ~Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)