Omar And The Howlers (feat. Gary Primich) - Too Much Is Not Enough (2012)

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Omar And The Howlers (feat. Gary Primich) - Too Much Is Not Enough (2012)

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Omar Dykes certainly likes his Jimmy Reed - following on from his 2007 release `On the Jimmy Reed Highway', recorded with Jimmie Vaughan, comes this record which is another Reed tribute recorded with harmonica player Gary Primich. In fact these tracks were recorded before the `On the Jimmy Reed Highway' material but put on hold when Jimmie Vaughan got involved, they are being released now in memory of the late Primich. It certainly makes a great tribute to both Jimmy Reed and Gary Primich, who plays beautifully on all the tracks, he keeps the spirit of Reed's harmonica playing with its distinctive blow-bends but doesn't attempt an impersonation, instead keeping his own big, fat tone. Similarly Dykes doesn't impersonate Reed's light, slurred vocals but sings in his own big rasping voice.

I love these songs which got me into blues in the 60s and which were part of the repertoires of most British R&B bands. Dykes and Primich don't do a lot with the songs - and that's as it should be - but crucially they keep that lazy loping Jimmy Reed-feel. The only original song "I Gotta Let You Go" fits right in with Reed's songs but sounds more like Slim Harpo. Also involved are Gary Clark Jr., Jay Moeller (of the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Ronnie James, Derek O'Brien, Barry Bihm and Jon Hahn. I really enjoyed this album and it's impossible to pick a favourite because all the tracks are so consistent but if you put a gun to my head I'd have to go for "Shame, shame, shame" which really rocks along.

Review by G. E. Harrison, Amazon Top Reviewer

With anybody else, releasing three albums in a year would be overkill. In addition, cutting more tracks on an artist he’s already covered in a previous tribute album, ‘07’s On The Jimmy Reed Highway, would also be too much exposure for many musicians. But with Omar, it just makes you want more.

Released on his own Big Guitar Music label October 16, this is a first rate offering, with the late Gary Primich playing masterful harp. Omar had covered some of Reed’s more familiar work including “Big Boss Man,” Brite Lites, Big City” on the ’07 release, but here he delves into some of Reed’s lesser known works. That doesn’t mean it’s any less impressive. The cuts are all short, with no drawn-out improvisations, a just-the-facts-Mam approach, get it said and move on.

“Gotta Let You Go” shares the same melody line with “Tee Ni Nee Ni Nu” and “Scratch My Back,” featuring great wa- wa harp by Primich backed by Gary Clark Jr’s slinky slide with Omar’s vocals sounding like he’s been gargling with gravedirt.

Omar rises up out of the gravel pit several octaves higher than his usual Karl-from- Slingblade/Beefheart/Wolf vocal characterizations for “Honest I Do,“ and once again Primich’s plaintive harp work raises goosebumps with his fine interpretation.

“Take Out Some Insurance” has a little stiffer backbeat than the original. Omar’s back down in the quarry spitting out stone-dusted vocals, sounding so wracked with pain that you know he’s not kidding about croaking if his beloved takes a powder.

“I’m Gonna Ruin You” has Omar howling like things you don’t want to meet up with in the woods at night while Primich tries to blow all the reeds right outta the harp.

You won’t want to skip around. Every cut reaches out and grabs you by the throat. It’s a pleasure to listen to Omar interpreting this stuff. You can tell he’s not just a fan but a student who’s learned his lesson well.

By the time you get to “You Don’t Have To Go,” you really don’t want this to end. Everybody shines on this one; Clark turning in a slide demonstration that’ll have you baying at the moon, Primich’s harp floating wraith-like above the mix and Omar sliding up and down octaves interrogating his soon to be ex-squeeze about her disrespectin’ ways.

Feel free to lay some more on us any time you’re ready, Omar. There ain’t no such thing as too much of this.

Review by Grant Britt, NoDepression.com

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Omar And The Howlers (feat. Gary Primich) - Too Much Is Not Enough (2012)

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Omar And The Howlers (feat. Gary Primich) - Too Much Is Not Enough (2012)

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