Van Wilks - 21st Century Blues (2015)

Van Wilks — 21st Century Blues (2015) is a mature and powerful work by Texas guitarist Van Wilks, released after a ten-year hiatus from studio recording. The musician himself described this album as "his take on modern blues," emphasizing that despite the shifting moods from track to track, his signature guitar remains the album's unifying element.

The album is the quintessence of the dense, groovy Texas sound (Low Down, Wound Up, Rockin' Texas Blues). Wilks demonstrates virtuoso control of the instrument, combining powerful riffs, emotional solos, and rich songwriting. The album was recorded in studios in Austin, Texas, and France, and was co-produced by Chet Himes.
The album boasts a delightful stylistic diversity: it features straightforward, energetic rockers, traditional slow shuffles, and languid, swampy blues numbers.

The album received high praise from genre critics for its respect for the roots of the Texas scene and its ability to move the genre forward. The recording also featured a number of notable guests, including Christopher Cross and Mulford Milligan.