Eric Gales
Crown
Provogue Records/Mascot Records Group
Producers: Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith
The gregarious blues rocker’s latest album Crown plays like a concept album on which Gales bears his soul, as evidenced by the pivotal song “I Want My Crown.” This is the guitarist’s battle cry where he musically goes toe to toe with Bonamassa in an epic axe duel. But a number of other songs mine deeper personal issues and socially relevant territory. “Survivor,” “Stand Up” and “The Storm” are superb examples of this. Rock, gospel, ballads and a whole lotta blues, baby! He mightily embraces it all.