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		PHIL GATES Addicted To The Blues CDBBY
	Multi-instrumentalist Phil Gates is a high tech guy. He has his own iTunes App and specializes in complex recording technology. In creating this CD, Gates contributes guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards, drum editing, song writing, recording, mixing, and production. He gets a tiny amount of assistance from other artists, but basically this is 100% pure Phil Gates. While other instruments play in the background at a mellow level, his vocals and guitar are at the forefront in the mix. The guitar consistently sounds classy, rehearsed, and a bit laid back. Gates does not avoid unwarranted bursts of fire cracker guitar playing; he simply has no use for it. You’ll hear the full spectrum of guitar playing – there is ’50s rockabilly on “Evening Train” and Texas rock boogie on “End Of Time” – but his vocals don’t have a similar range. However, there are moments when they bark with sandy grit. Each one of the 12 all-original songs has a powerful message even if, musically, they don’t always come packed with a punch. The songs are very personal. As to be expected by a younger generation bluesman, Gates celebrates the positives and complications of life. Some song topics include struggling to find the time and dedication needed for a gratifying relationship and how things can change for the better once the storm clouds disappear. The ultra smoothness of “Get Around To Me” can be directly attributed to Matt Forger (Michael Jackson) who engineered the track. “Sexy Little Cool” contains hot rockin’ southern slide guitar, where like a garishly decorated restaurant, the main melody is cheesy and classy all at the same time. Gates’ funky organ adds extra spice on “Everyday.” “Used Me Up” really comes together because it has a pumping groove and a raw edge. The most memorable melody on the album “The Wisdom” sounds the least like blues. While Gates asserts to adhere to the wisdom of those no longer present in his life, the New Orleans second-line rhythm is danceable and enjoyable. As the songs transition from one to another, it sounds like different drummers performed, and each used a different set of drums. Whether intended or not, this makes it seem like different session players were used even though live musicians were not used in the studio. The drum tracks came from samples of real drummers performing the grooves. To his credit, Gates did not use MIDI drums, drum machines, or synthesizer sounds for the drums. “Road Shufflin’” is an enthusiastic instrumental. It contains a little glitch that was caused by Gates switching pickup positions on his 30-year-old guitar. This adds a sense of realness to an album that on the outset might appear to have been over-produced.