by Tom Johnson
My dad introduced me to Robert Cray long ago and, even into a new century, little had changed with Cray: He was still putting out dependable, if unspectacular, albums of his smooth brand of blues — a sound that fills in that overlooked category of music that can be played in the background for pretty much anyone and it won’t offend in any way. Cray’s blues are soulful, but have enough sheen that they aren’t going to drag people’s mood down. Yet, they’re real, and therefore it never feels like inconsequential background music. Guitar-afficianados still find plenty to enjoy in his well-developed sound. Robert Cray’s music is the kind of thing that’s essentially safe, but not so safe that you’ll hear it all over adult-contemporary stations.
Half Notes is a quick-take music feature on Something Else! Reviews, presented whenever the mood strikes us.
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