Face To Face

Living Blues - "[T]he music's raw authenticity elevates this disc to a higher plateau." Q - 3 stars out of 5 - "[The album] wrests the focus away from the star guests that littered Hooker's '90s work and back onto the man himself."

Final Recordings, Vol. 1: Face to Face combines previously released material from John Lee Hooker with unfinished tracks he was working on before he died. Compiled by the estate of Hooker, with his daughter Zakiya at the helm, the unreleased material leans heavily toward soul-blues united with Hooker's patented electric Delta boogie. "Loving People," "Funky Mabel," "Six Page Letter" (a ballad with synth strings), and "Rock These Blues Away" are highlights. Zakiya Hooker takes the spotlight on "Mean Mean World," singing lead alongside her father, and the acoustic "Wednesday Evening Blues" features George Thorogood on guitar. Hooker staples "Dimples," "It Serves Me Right to Suffer," "Mad Man Blues," and "Boogie Chillen" also make their perennial appearances. While there are no real surprises here, Face to Face still sounds great and is recommended alongside John Lee's last official releases, Chill Out and Don't Look Back, both on Pointblank. ~ Al Campbell|