Eric Bibb - Home To Me - 2000

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Eric Bibb - Home To Me - 2000

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Product Description: Guitarist/singer Eric Bibb represents a new breed of performers who acknowledge and perpetuate the blues-troubadour tradition. From a technical standpoint, Bibb is light-years ahead of country-blues masters such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Lightnin' Hopkins, but when it comes to capturing the feeling of the legends, he often comes up short. His vocals have a smoky quality, and he is an accomplished guitarist, but while the material on Home to Me-mostly originals, with a few covers like "Bring It Home to Me" and "Come Back Baby"-is catchy, there just isn't much grit. Bibb really shines, however, on the "Mandela Is Free," which oozes with earthy soul, and "Sing Your Song," performed with Taj Mahal.

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Eric Bibb - Home To Me - 2000

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Review: The fourth album from modern bluesman Eric Bibb is a get-out-of-bed delight, the kind of record that makes you feel like being productive. As with his previous efforts, Home to Me contains some strong folk elements, especially on the slower, mellower numbers such as "Singin' in My Heart." The son of folk musician Leon Bibb, the Eric Bibb met and learned from such luminaries as Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. Though Bibb's career is based in Europe (he lives in Sweden), he has cultivated a growing American following, which is only appropriate, as his music–a flavorful mix of folk, country, and soul over a solid blues base–is very much a U.S. creation. Even "Mandela Is Free," which contains African-style chants and rhythms, is sung over a folk-blues accompaniment–and what could be more uniquely American than fusing disparate musical styles? Full of sunshine and good feeling, Home to Me is a perfect summer release, guaranteed to provide warmth all through the year. Mr. Bibb provides an entertaining and charismatic rapport of appreciativeness toward his live audience. His soul-felt blues voice and acoustic guitar abilities attest to his innate gift as a musician and songwriter. On this album, the melody to the song "For You" is almost haunting–add the lyrics–together they show his heartfelt passion for his music.