Gabriel Cox

Gabriel Cox
Self Produced

There are a lot of talented musicians out there today that have come to be categorized under the heading of Americana or Roots Music. It is a broad label that encompasses a variety of music, most of it with some form of blues base behind it. Unfortunately a lot of terrific artists seem to get lost due to this, because people just cannot see the connection or because it is too diverse in the multitudes of directions that have been thrown under the heading. But there are many exceptional artists who deserve to be heard. Some perhaps like Valerie June, Bob Schneider, JJ Grey, Eric Lindell, Anders Osborne or Paul Thorn have all been able to break down the doors and have themselves heard. Hopefully, this will happen with Gabriel Cox as well.

Cox is a Salem, Oregon-based musician who draws his modern style blues in a manner that may bring to mind a number of artists who have come under the above label. He has a rock-edged flair to his all original music. It is not your traditional 12-bar blues, but it is highly interesting and catchy material. And the very first thing you’re going to notice on the opening track of his debut, self-titled album, is that the man can sing! That song “Wonderful Soul” is ear-candy that sounds as if it belongs on the radio, playing in your ear-buds, in your car, on your stereo, or wherever else you listen to enjoyable music. And it is just the first number on a recording that is excessively well produced and filled with exciting music.

Cox is more than just an adept vocalist. He is the full package. He writes his own material and plays both guitar and banjo exceptionally well. The band behind him is on target with Cox’s musical visions and help bring that rockin’ sharpness to the music. Nathan Olsen’s keyboard maneuvers lay down funkiness in the right parts and add the right sound effects matching Cox’s intense fretwork. The rhythm section of bassist Sheldon Roy and Mark Cox on percussion drives the band with energy to spare. Mark Cox also delivers fine harmonica playing on “Ricochet” that combined with the single string guitar picking and banjo add to a mystical, perhaps evil as he informs you if you want to play something one way, he is going to do it the opposite. Vocalist Kube Feuerborn pits a mighty challenge to Cox on “Real Problem” as the two exchange jabs in their “conversation, an awkward situation” as they reveal that they “real problem is you.”

There is really a lot to like about this album. The lyrics are going to find themselves rolling through your mind with several tracks that keep demanding replay over and over because they’re just that appealing. Again, do not go into this with thoughts that you’re going to hear traditional blues, this is modern and innovative. Perhaps the closest you’ll get to traditional is the closing piece “Willie Brown” that is mostly a cappella with hand clapping and foot stomping as backing that was recorded live. It is still intense with its chorus, “I ain’t no wolf, but I am howling, I ain’t no king, but I am crowned, I see angels, without a heaven, and I hear music, without a sound.”

This is an impressive debut disc from Gabriel Cox. I can foresee him making his mark easily in the roots music world with such listenable and catchy material. Well done, this is one disc that has been on constant airplay for me the past couple months.

Total Time: 63:30

Wonderful Soul / Change My Mind / Mr. No Call No Show / Ricochet / Crush / Fire And Ice / Little Birdie / Real Problem / Not My Lady / The Truth Hurts / The Lamb / What’s Your Name / Willie Brown