December 2000

Roy Gaines
New Frontier Lover
Severn Records

By Bill Milkowski

While some guitarists may choose to sing because they want to, others sing because they need to. Roy Gaines, a prolific songwriter and hotshot Texas guitar slinger, is in the latter category. On New Frontier Lover, he wails with gospel abandon on impassioned tracks like "The World's Biggest Fool" and "You Can't Make Nobody Love You." He shows an earthy sense of humor on tunes like "Hind Ends & Elbows" and "Roll Your Own Biscuit" and struts his fretboard flash on the instrumental "Roy's Theme." Already in his 60s, Roy is overdue to receive the kind of accolades older, tenor-sax-honking brother Grady Gaines receives. This percolating set, his fifth album as a leader, should help to bring him some acclaim in blues circles.