Blue Lunch
Not Live at the Copa

The third release from Cleveland-based Blue Lunch, Not Live at the Copa (Catch This Records), is a standard arrangement of Mid-western jump blues. The album features three originals and 11 covers, some only vaguely familiar, others imitated once too often.

The opening track, "Skin, Bones & Hair," sounds oddly similar to the T. Bone Walker classic "Bye Bye Baby." The group then rolls through a litany of cover songs, including Wyonnie Harris' "Bloodshot Eyes," Tiny Bradshaw's "Gravy Train," William Ward's jukebox classic "Sixty Minute Man," and Big Joe Turner's "When The Rooster Crows."

The musical arrangements are fair and it's hard to miss with these toe-tappers. But after listening to the album several times, I can't help feeling it is held back by the vocals, which often sound strained and never really jump out of the songs. Given the band's previous efforts and experience performing on the Ohio swing circuit, I had hoped Not Live would be more memorable.

—Smilin' Buddha Joe

Visit the band at www.bluelunch.com