Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers : Sinner Street

Thackery wields a wicked axe on Sinner Street. His tone is more steely and his attack more stinging on this blues-rock outing with his regular band, the Drivers. He also distinguishes himself as a potent songwriter with such catchy ditties as “Grab the Rafters,” the loping shuffle “Bad News (Travels Fast),” the rockin’ “Lovin’ My Money” and his jivey “Hundreds Into Ones.” “Million Dollar Bill” and “Detroit Iron” are both grungy metal-blues romps that manage to blend Black Sabbath and ZZ Top, with a few touches of Hendrixian bravado thrown in. Thackery closes the collection on a more introspective note with the melancholy slow blues instrumental “Blues ‘Fore Dawn,” which features some of his tastiest, most lyrical playing on record.

Originally Published January 1, 2001