Slide guitarist
Lil' Ed Williams & the Blues Imperials
bring the energy of live performance to their seventh
Alligator
release,
Full Tilt
. The highlights on this disc tend to reflect that of the album's title, especially the spirited cover versions of
the Contours
'
"First I Look at the Purse"
and
Hound Dog Taylor
's
"Take Five,"
along with the originals
"Hold That Train,"
"Candy Sweet,"
"My Baby Moves Me."
Lil' Ed
's raucous guitar chops are at center stage on those tracks and the additional backing from horn players
Eddie McKinley
David Basinger
and pianist/organist
Johnny Iguana
add some extra kick. There are a few lukewarm tracks that are a bit too rote and, unfortunately, bring down the overall good-time party appeal of this disc. Still, fans of
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
, or electric modern blues in general, will want to add this to their collections. ~ Al Campbell