The Jimmy Bowskill Band
Album: The Jimmy Bowskill Band
Label: Ruf
Tracks: 11
Website: www.jimmybowskill.com

Rough and ready roadhouse blues rock with a hint of alt-country for added flavour, Back Number is young Jimmy's fifth album - not bad for a 21-year-old guitar slinger and cask-aged singer. Riffs come hard and heavy, beefed up by powerhouse drums and gutsy bass playing courtesy of Daniel Ruff and Ian McKeown respectively.

As power trios go the JBB take few prisoners and if their breakdowns are peppered with one or two more solos than is strictly necessary we'll put it down to youthful exuberance rather than dismiss it as purely showing off.

After all, a songwriter of the calibre of Ron Sexsmith wouldn't bother working with any old bar band, would he? Sexsmith contributes the closing track, Least of My Worries and its textured subtleties make it the album's stand out, although what precedes it is generously peppered with the kind of balls out blues rock that Paul Rodgers - another Bowskill fan - laid the blueprint for.

Nick Churchill
www.thegranvillechambers.co.uk