Whenever a legendary artist dies, it’s common for the general public to go back and revisit their work, reflecting upon their brilliance. In the wake of Gary Moore’s 2011 passing, there was no shortage of music to explore. Between (the original) Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, and his extensive solo career, Moore’s catalog spanned over 40 years and touched upon styles ranging from metal and prog to jazz and blues. The last 20 years of his career focused largely on the blues end of the spectrum, as does his debut posthumous release, How Blue Can You Get.
Truth be told, I’m surprised it took this long for a posthumous Gary Moore album. Most deceased artists’ estates scramble to throw together a collection of odds and ends before the body is even cold. Hell, I’m pretty sure Jimi Hendrix has released more music dead than did when he was alive. I’m not sure who’s in charge of Moore’s estate, but it shows great reverence to wait until the 10th anniversary of his passing to release such an album. It feels like less of a cash grab and more like a proper tribute to a guitar god.
How Blue Can You Get is made up of 8 unreleased Moore originals and with all due respect, I can understand why they never saw the light of day until now. Some feel like loose sketches of songs that could’ve been (“Looking at Your Picture”). Others come off as off the cuff jams (“Steppin’ Out”). The songs themselves are average, but serve their purpose as a backdrop to Moore’s signature playing and singing. A smile crept upon my face as the album opened with the rocking “I’m Tore Down”. Boy is it nice to hear that familiar voice again. On top of a soulful vocal performance, Moore unleashes a scorching guitar solo that sounds less like a guitar and more like a human wailing. This freakish ability is what made Moore who he was. No other guitarist, before or after, could evoke the emotion out of a six string like he could.
Of the three ballads (“In My Dreams”, “Love Can Make a Fool of You”, “Living with the Blues”), my favorite is “Love Can Make a Fool of You”. Originally released as a bonus track on a reissue of Corridors of Power, this stripped down blues version bares all. We hear every ounce of heartbreak in Moore’s voice, while his guitar cries in passionate misery. Les Paul must’ve never imagined that within the right hands, his invention would have the ability to move listeners to tears. Those tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy on the following track, “Done Somebody Wrong”. Moore may have been an Irishman, but this is some gutsy southern fried blues rock if I’ve ever heard it. Those tasty leads give off some serious Johnny Winter vibes.
While How Blue Can You Get is at times an uneven listen, that is to be expected. When we take that into account, we’re left with a group of songs that highlight a dearly missed genius firing on all cylinders. There was no slowing down for Gary Moore. If he were alive today, he’d still be pouring his heart and soul into every last vocal and note. It doesn’t matter what style you play. Every aspiring guitarist should listen to this album and take notes. We could all use some Moore in our lives.
6 out of 10
Label: Provogue
Genre: Blues Rock
For fans of: Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower