Royal Southern Brotherhood
Album: Don't Look Back
Label: RUF
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.royalsouthernbrotherhood.com/

Don't Look Back: The Muscle Shoals Sessions is the third album from the American blues rock supergroup - the Royal Southern Brotherhood.

Featuring the talented Cyril Neville, on main vocals, Charlie Wooton on bass, Yonrico Scott on drums, and two new members - Jimmy Vaughan's son, Tyrone Vaughan, on guitar, alongside Bart Walker on guitar, mandolin and banjo.

If there were any concerns about bringing in the new guys they are blown away with

I Wanna Be Free, a muscular opener, with drums and guitar high in the mix. It's a full-on production which leaves little to the imagination.

The title track, ditches the muscular approach for a more gentler vibe, with banjo taking the lead and has a great groove, with Neville's vocals cutting through the mix.

Hit Me Once features some good interplay between the two new boys in the band.

The groove is most definitely funky and full on, with the drums and bass pushing things along nicely.

Cyril Neville gets writing credits on eleven of the album's 14 tracks. His vocals give the songs a very smooth feel and the band cooks along behind him. They sound as if they all had a great time making this record.

Hard Blues features some incendiary guitar as the two new boys push each other higher and higher.

The driving bass on Penzi, the more subtle It's Time For Love, to the full blown Southern rock of Bayou Baby all illustrate this band have more than one string to their bow.

And when you think the band is all funked out, the final song, the plainitive Anchor Me is a great counterpoint.

John Knighton