SHAWN PITTMAN - REVIEWSHAWN PITTMAN - REVIEW

Back to Press

Blues Revue

Shawn Pittman

Something's Gotta Give -- CD Review

by Bill Fountain

This second release from Dallas-based Shawn Pittman (who's recently been opening for Susan Tedeschi) is an ambitious undertaking. Pittman wrote 10 of the 11 tracks, including several capitvating instrumentals. The release marks the developing career of an up-and-coming bluesman. His compositions are sincere and heartfelt; the songs reflect his emotions and life experiences while showcasing his maturing axe work.

The title track references a fatal shooting incident that took place just outside Pittman's home, while "TELL ME WHY" and "JUST A GAME" conjure up his experiences with the opposite sex.

Pittman's lyrics are sturdy, and he's an able vocalist. But the real meat and potatoes of SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE are the funk-infused instrumentals that provide Pittman a blank canvas on which to paint his creative soundscapes. "GET STARTED" is a straightforward groove piece a la Wes Montgomery, while "EAST SIDE GROOVE" reflects a lighter tone and attitude. The jams reveal vibrantly charged guitar work; Pittman puts his love of melody first, straying from the usual dazzling onslaught of the lead guitar and instead using subtle textures to create a focused harmony.

The last song, " THAT FIRST DRINK," is a visceral, gritty, foot-stomping sermon about the ills brought on by the demon in the bottle. Pittman contributes mean slide guitar, and his harsh vocals seem to transcend the youthful energy apparent elsewhere on the album. The song effectively conveys a sense of tension and urgent self-evaluation, and it does so in an understated way that can't help but get under your skin. This is a drastic stylistic departure from the other tracks, but it's definitely a side of the performer that bears exploring in future projects.

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE offers solid evidence that Pittman is a talented performer and songwriter whose best is yet to come.