Album Review: Rick Holmstrom - Get It!

Rick Holmstrom

Get It!

*** out of *****

The newest instrumental album from guitarist/bandleader Rick Holmstrom is a throwback to the days of stripped back rock/soul/R&B offerings in the vein of Freddie King and Booker T. and the M.G.'s. 

The sixteen tracks on Get It! are brief and to the point, usually playing in one style before breezily moving on to the next effort. The groovy opener sets the tone with ringing guitars and a strutting appeal as the Mavis Staple's band leader, who Staples has nicknamed "Pops Jr." relishes that clear crisp, soulful guitar tone. 

Joining Holmstrom on the record is his long time running partners Steve Mugalian (drums) (Lucinda Williams, Harry Dean Stanton, Chuck Prophet) and Gregory Boaz (bass) (Dave Alvin, Mick Taylor, John Mayall) as the trio dips into various styles with ease. 50's era rock and roll gets an upbeat run through on the quick "All About My Girls" while "Kronky Tonk" deploys a warbling southern twang throughout. 

Mugalian shines brightly with his dynamite funky drumming during "FunkE3" and the stuttering "Bubbles" putting the spotlight on his excellent fills; both are highlight offerings. The rocky shimmer of "Weeping Tana", the lazy strums of "Erlee Time" and the jazzy twists on "Robin's Robin" all float on effortlessly while the surf rock solos from Holmstrom on "Surfer Chuck" are crisp and tasty. 

The trio works best upbeat as the bouncy closer "Looky Here" proves, when they slow down for the creepy, spaced out vibes on "Taghazout" or the slow pretty strolling "Walking With Diane" the players insert a new dimension to their sound. 

The '50's styled rock and roll of "Pour One Out" and the blues shuffling of "King Freddie" are both clear tributes to Freddie King and a clear message of the influence on Holmstrom while writing Get It! That bygone style and sound still rolls sweetly into the ear and makes the hips easily sway when this trios get their capable hands on it. 

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