P-A-U-L – Tales From The Gravel

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Eponymously named P-A-U-L, after singer/guitarist Paul Andrew Ulysses Lamb, have achieved a presence in the UK of late thanks to their involvement with English blues sensation Joanne Shaw Taylor, frequently opening her shows and then doubling as her backing band, first Stateside, then most recently in the UK as well. Tales From The Gravel is their third commercial album and sees Lamb continue the same style and delivery he started using on 2010′s Gunshot Lullaby, with his vocals like a mix of Eric Sardinas, Billy F. Gibbons and Ricky Warwick; genuine blues rarely troubling the songs at all. In actual fact, on the heavier songs, his gruff voice sounds forced, and when he sounds about as dynamic as Peter Criss singing acoustic/piano ballad We Believe it’s easy to see why he does that. Some of the songs are legitimately good, like groover Forever Young And Free (the motif of which is almost duplicated on Bite You, which also bizarrely includes “yabba yabba yabba yabba yabba yabba do” amongst its chorus lyrics) and the early-2000s-ZZ Top of The One, but others are either by the numbers rock ‘n’ roll, lacking any real feeling (Pistol Whipped Again, Ghost of Gun And Fist), or over-melodic blatant radio targets like The Time of My Life. It’s not a terrible album, but Paul’s best material is still by far debut album Hangin’ On For Dear Life. The songs were better and the sound was fresher and more original.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Albums, Blues, Quick.Play Reviews, P-A-U-L