Guitarist-singer Sue Foley has been building blues credibility since her acclaimed 1992 debut, Young Girl Blues. On Love Comin’ Down (Shanachie 8036: 48:52) her quavering little girl voice belies her guitar slinger’s swagger on the tough “You’re Barking up the Wrong Tree” and Huey Meaax’s “Oh Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin’).” She unveils her considerable slide guitar chops on “Let My Tears Fall Down,” summons up the Delta spirit of Charlie Patton on the stark, unaccompanied “Now Strong” and for a change of pace unleashes some nice flamenco licks on the instrumental “Mediterranean Breakfast.” Foley plays it rough and tumble on the raunchy boogie “Let Me Drive” and she oozes sexuality on a dark, haunting rendition of Willie Dixon’s “Same Thing” as she sings “Why do men go crazy when a woman wear her dress so tight?/Must be the same ol’ thing that makes a tomcat fight all night/Why do all these men try to run a big legged woman down?/Must be the same ol’ thing that makes a bulldog hug a hound.” All the elements-songwriting, playing, soulful conviction-come together for the transplanted Canadian on this solid outing.
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