Upon reading the liner notes on Shorty’s latest—with references to “taking the blues world by storm,” “powerful and stunning,” and “full of energy”—I expected to hear a clattering heavy metal blues CD. I’ve enjoyed several other recent Evidence releases, so I held out hope Shorty might reprise the style which made his Pull and Cobra singles memorable.

Except for a few isolated tracks, my initial observation was sadly correct. Shorty writes great songs, but his accompaniment generally is stuck in overdrive and his guitar is as subtle as a fire alarm. “Just Warming Up” “Don’t Stop (I Just Got Started)” and “Put It All In There,” have a nice groove, and prove you don’t have to blow out the listeners ear drums to get their attention.

Most of the rest of the CD is marred by musicians who frankly overplay. Unfortunately Shorty goes a little too wild on this outing.