Luke Winslow-King “Blue Mesa”

Goddamn, Luke Winslow-King is smooth. I’ve been spinning his new record Blue Mesa (Bloodshot) this morning and it feels both like I’ve known this album all my life and like a breath of fresh air. I think that happens because he draws on so many genres to create his own brand of roots music, so it all sounds like the real thing without getting repetitive. On Blue Mesa you get ripping blues and screaming slide guitars juxtaposed with Gospel-infused ballads, with a dreamy organ setting a mournful tone. There is a real dynamism to this record and it holds together incredibly well. It’s going to be a great companion for this summer.  

Billboard premiered “Chicken Dinner” off Blue Mesa and you should check out the story behind this really fun, uptempo rock tune. He co-wrote the song with the late blues singer Lissa Driscoll, to whom he has dedicated Blue Mesa. I love the horns on this tune, too–they add so much texture and muscle and let Winslow-King just have fun.