Sweet Tea

'Sweet Tea' is a mellow but striking affair, full of medium to slow tempo blues boogie. It's Buddy Guy through and through, while in places it certainly does conjure up visions of early Led Zeppelin or even the late great Jimi Hendrix.

This astonishing CD is about as down to earth as blues / rock gets. It's refined yet raw sincerity is very sobering in its intimate constitution. The natural warmth that exudes from this music exemplifies the creator's skill and respect for his roots. The lyrics are uncomplicated (Guy tells it like it is), the grooves are straight ahead and the reverb-drenched guitar solos are truly glorious. These ingredients create an overall atmosphere that grips the listener from start to finish.

At 65 years of age, the music of Buddy Guy is a lot like good whiskey - it gets better with age. This is certainly apparent with 'Sweet Tea', as it is without a doubt the most thoroughly engrossing release of Guy's long and esteemed career. It'll take a lot for him to top this one!