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Title: No Frills, Low Down Blues
Review: I only have one other John Mooney recording (Late Last Night), which I like. But I have seen him live in New Orleans. After a smoking set, he shocked me and all in attendance by coming out for his encore without his guitar, and singing acapella, a spiritual hymnall, the Son House style. That element of surprise is heard on Gone To Hell. John achieves his own style on this recording while clearly influenced by some of the greats of the Delta Blues. He has a scaled back sound, with usually only drums and bass backing him, but occassionally keyboards too. The songs are not francy, but original. They have momentum. The only thing fancy is John's slide work which is done appropriately. Johns vocals are gritty, yet soulfull. I think Tom Waits fans would like this artist. I like John Mooney because he is a skilled original artist who honors his roots, and that is reflected in Gone To Hell.
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