Album Review: Seasick Steve - Sonic Soul Surfer

There are a few things that have made Seasick Steve more than the relatively unknown name he was before 2006: his beard, his selection of ad-hoc three-string guitars and his incredible mastery of the blues.

Live, he’s a phenomenon, but unfortunately Sonic Soul Surfer doesn’t have the same charm as his previous albums. Ironically, it’s the sameness that brings it down. The slow, badass drawl of Swamp Dog and the hectic boogie of Barracuda ’68 are masterclasses in blues, riding high on bent notes and rough chants. But the rest is a fly-through of repeated themes and tunes. It’s a big work, but more filler than killer.