Label: Guardian Angels

It’s not often that you’ll find a modern blues and folk artist that looks to the traditions of the genre, but Sandi Thom has given it her best shot on her latest album, Merchants and Thieves.  There’s just one problem; we’ve heard it all before.

Like any other blues artist, Thom puts her own spin on familiar themes by injecting her own emotional baggage into the music.  Combined with a breathy and weak head-voice and the staple electronic twang, Merchants and Thieves is likely to be enjoyed only by those who are already fans of the genre.

The album starts off weak with the opening pair of “Maggie McCall” and “Runaway Train” which leave little to the imagination, but luckily proceedings pick up substantially with “Gold Dust”.  It’s mellower than the typical “travelling” blues song, yet somehow remains upbeat at the same time.  Despite its overworked theme, “Gold Dust” is eerily catchy in its own melancholic way.

The upbeat blues theme continues with “Heart of Stone”, the album’s token “he’ll be sorry” song. The clap, base beat and folk-like twang give that presumptuous feel-good attitude, pausing only occasionally to let the impact of the track’s stronger lyrics carry over.  “Heart of Stone” is another catchy number and is just different enough to stand out from the rest of the album.

What is perhaps most interesting about Merchants and Thieves is the album’s title track.  The sole instrumental track present on the release, the tune is strangely calming.  There is repetition, purposeful note changes on the guitar and a slight whisper in the absence of lyrics.  Unfortunately, it does grow a little weary after the second or third minute.

Other tracks worth a listen, or a least recognition, include “Show No Concern”, the token “I’ll kill him” track complete with references to the devil; “Belly of the Blues”, where it seems most of the emotion from the album resides; and “Ghost Town”, an acapella journey of dull melody and better harmony.

Merchants and Thieves is an interesting compilation that should at least be given a listen to by those of blues and folk fandom.  Just don’t put too much faith in originality, as much of the album’s sound has been heard before.