Eric Sardinas - Devil's Train (2001)

On his sophomore release, guitarist Eric Sardinas seems to have chilled out a little, settling into a musical stride that, as with all the best blues, can keep going all day long. While in many ways his music hasn't changed much since 1999's Treat Me Right, Sardinas sounds a lot more confident on this one, especially during Devil's Train's bluesier second half. Here, his admittedly exceptional slide work and gravelly voice are great assets, especially as he relaxes into "Country Mile," duets with Honeyboy Edwards on "Gambling Man Blues," and carries "Down to Whiskey" all the way to the end. Although Sardinas is from southern California--and that's often audible--there's a Texas feel to his blues: it's big, loud, tight, and impossible to ignore. A notable exception is the final track, which ends things on an unexpectedly quiet note. --Genevieve Williams