Doug MacLeod

Exactly Like This
Reference Recordings

You just have to love the wit and wisdom behind the songs and stories of Doug MacLeod. Often humorous, but often also thought provoking or beautifully romantic, there just may not be another storytelling bluesman out there today who can draw a listener completely into his words. Of course, this type of performer was fairly common back in the day, but MacLeod maintains that nearly lost aspect within his performances and recordings much to the delight of legions of fans.

The title, Exactly Like This, comes from something that MacLeod explains at every show: the song he is about to play is going to go “exactly like this” for this presentation because it will never be done exactly the same way any other time — no repetition here or any other time.

Exactly Like This is the follow-up release to his Blues Music Award winning disc There’s A Time, and like that last disc, he brings back sidemen Jimi Bott on drums and Denny Croy on bass, throwing keyboardist Mike Thompson into the mix as well. It’s a grouping that works, so why mess with success? And like that last release, Exactly Like This is a full package of great songcraft and extraordinary guitar work.

Doug MacLeod has the knack to describe a scene in a song that brings it all to vision and life. Take the song “Serious Doin’ Woman,” where he sings of waiting for a Greyhound Bus on a hot summer day in Georgia sitting in a diner eating a bowl of red beans and rice when that woman walks through the door wearing a cotton dress. Can it give a more vivid image in your mind? You’re right there with him and you’re completely snared into his tale. That’s exactly the type of master he is at storytelling.

Or he can steal your heart with a tender ballad such as “Heaven’s The Only Place.” He can play on words speaking of misunderstanding, miscommunication, mistakes, mistrust and that’s “Too Many Misses For Me” he explains. And he’s also well-known as a humorist that comes across in a song like “”Ain’t It Rough?” speaking about those audience members who you can never win over, including the woman with more make-up than five drag queens in West Hollywood asking if he plays loud . . . madame compared to your make-up, we’re mute.

It truly is hard to dislike Doug MacLeod, especially when he continues to release such entertaining music that makes you smile, no matter how many times you hear him play the songs. But remember, they’re going to go Exactly Like This . . . . exactly, and you’re going to want to do yourself a favor and pick up yet another stellar release from Doug MacLeod. Can I smell more Blues Music Award nominations coming up in 2016 for this one? I think so.

Total Time: 55:36

Rock It Till The Cows Come Home / Too Many Misses For Me / Find Your Right Mind / Ain’t It Rough? / Vanetta / Serious Doin’ Woman / Ridge Runner / New Morning Road / Raylene / Heaven’s The Only Place / You Got It Good (And That Ain’t Bad)