Reviews
- Blues Revue,'Meridian' by Tom Hysop
- Buddy, A Saga of Hell by Tim Schuller
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin Online, Wave Waikiki, Hawaii by Shawn 'Speedy' Lopes
- Blues Revue, Minneapolis, MN by Tom Hyslop
- Blues Access, "Something's Gotta Give" by Tim Schuller
- Blues On Stage, "Something's Gotta Give" by Robert T. Murphy
- Blues Revue, "Something's Gotta Give" by Bill Fountain
- Living Blues, "Something's Gotta Give" Niles Frantz
- Real Blues, "Something's Gotta Give" by Andy Grigg
- Vintage Guitar, "Something's Gotta Give" by John Heidt
- Southwest Blues, "Something's Gotta Give" by Pete Barbeck
- House Of Blues, "Something's Gotta Give" by Albert Torres
- Jazztimes, "Burnin' Up"
- Blues Revue, "Burnin' Up" by Art Tipaldi
- Bayfront Blues Festival, Aug. 16, 1998, by John Myers
Living Blues
Shawn Pittman
Something's Gotta Give -- CD Review
by Niles Frantz
Issue #147 September/October 1999
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE is the second CD from Dallas-based guitarist/singer/songwriter Shawn Pittman. The album's ten originals and one cover (of Guitar Slim) show Pittman's love of dirty guitar sounds but also tones and song structures reminiscent of Jimmie Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, with a subtle spicing of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
In the tradition of the Fab T's, the best tunes on the album are simple songs built around bright, guitar-heavy grooves with straight-ahead guitar fills; rhythm is the key. TELL ME WHY has an irresistible groove; Austin, Texas, meets south Louisiana on the swampy yet tasty JUST A GAME; GET STARTED features a juicy two-chord vamp with a soul/jazz feel; and PAYIN' THE PRICE gets funky with chunky bass and organ. On the other hand, including three instrumentals on an 11 song album is a bit much; SOMETHING TO REMEMBER YOU BY falls flat without Guitar Slim's manic energy; and the acoustic closer about alcohol trouble is too reminiscent of Stevie Ray's THE SKY IS CRYING album.
But Pittman offers an admirable focus on simplicity, tone, and directness rather than speed-demon flash, zoot-suit cool, or bogus retro revivalism. Keep an eye on him.
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE/TELL ME WHY/JUST A GAME/GET STARTED/COME ON OVER/EAST SIDE GROOVE/SOMETHING TO REMEMBER YOU BY/PAYIN' THE PRICE/MAKE IT THROUGH/CRUISIN'/THAT FIRST DRINK