Keb’ Mo’
Keep it Simple
(Epic/Sony)
Keb’ Mo’ has been keepin’ it simple for about the last 20 years, fusing old country-blues with touches of folk and soul while moanin’ the blues on contemporary issues. Keb has always had a modern take on delta blues masters Robert Johnson and Son House (Keb plays a National steel as well) and Keep it Simple is as modern as its gets without sounding like a Yardbirds record. Although his self-titled debut is still his best, Keep is Simple makes for good modern blues.
—Trevor MacLaren
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.