Living Proof
was designed partially as an aural autobiography from the legendary
Buddy Guy
, opening up with the stark summation
"74 Years Young,"
then running through songs that often address some aspect of a working musician's life. It's not a concept that's followed through completely -- it's thrown off track somewhat by duets with
B.B. King
and
Carlos Santana
, with the latter's soft groove sticking out tonally as well -- but it's enough of a narrative to give the record a definitive shape that some latter-day
Guy
albums are lacking. Still, the selling point of
remains
's guitar, an instrument that improbably gets louder, nastier, and gnarlier with each passing year. Like
Skin Deep
before it,
is distinguished by these bold, clenched blasts of sonic fury, but here the production has just enough grit to make the entire enterprise feel feral, and that's a greater testament to
's enduring vitality than any one song could ever be. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine