Shannon Curfman - Loud Guitars Big Suspicions (1999)

What is it about Fargo, North Dakota? The town that gave us Jonny Lang, young guitar-slinger of the 1990s, now presents Shannon Curfman... young guitar-slinger of the 1990s. Rereleased on Arista Records, Curfman's debut, Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions was recorded when the guitarist was only 13. But you'd never guess it by listening to her play; although her style doesn't have the distinctive stamp that will come with experience, she's more than competent. And her singing voice sounds like it belongs to someone twice her age. Though the comparisons to Bonnie Raitt may be a bit premature, Curfman's got just as much potential as any of the other young blues-rockers littering the landscape these days, if not more. It'll be most worthwhile to hear how she develops; Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions may well be the debut of the next queen of blues guitar. --Genevieve Williams