November 2000

Alvin Youngblood Hart
Start With the Soul
Hannibal

By Bill Milkowski

Alvin Youngblood Hart is a young guitarist who has paid proper homage to the past with some dazzling Delta flavored acoustic work. On Start With the Soul (Hannibal 1449; 46:37) he focuses exclusively on electric guitar and dredges up some nasty tones on hard-edged rock numbers like "Fightin' Hard," "Cryin' Shame," "The Hustler" and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Back to Memphis." This one has more to do with Arthur Lee & Love than the Delta, although Alvin does dredge up an acceptable Howlin' Wolf call on the bluesy closer, "Will I Ever Get Back Home?" Hardcore blues fans may be leery of Hart's rock leanings here, but his departure is an ambitious one.