Featured Artist: Bernard Allison

CD Title: Energized - Live in Europe

Year: Reissued in 2006 - Originally Released in 2005

Record Label: Ruf Records

Style: Blues

Musicians: Bernard Allison (guitars, vocals), Mike Vlahakis (keyboards), Jason Wilber (bass), Andrew Thoma (drums).

Review:

Bernard Allison offers everything on Energized, a Ruf Record recorded live at the Musa in Germany in 2005.  Allison opens up his disc with an instrumental, but don't let his lack of words fool you into thinking he has nothing of wit to say. Humorous lyrics are, "I know a woman named trouble, I like what shes doing to me," and "Too many women, taking too much of his time, there must be a better solution. Too many women in Tokyo."

Do not underestimate. Energized is a very intimate CD.  Allison wears his heart on his guitar and sings to his girl many confessions. Midway through track 7, "The Way Love Was Meant To Be," the guitar and the drums prod the listener down the sidewalk of love - if only love were that tangible to follow. His musings seem to make us believe, "The love for you I just cant hide" and "You don’t need to worry, you don’t need to cry because I will never say goodbye."  Bernard Allison's nasally voice matches the wailing of his guitar.

On the second track, "Girl I aint Walking Out Your Front Door, " Mike Vlahakis rattles the keyboard like a girl throwing her man out. The effect is listening to a girl's voice, in response to Bernard's ultimatum. On "Bad Love," Allison riffs his guitar skills for more than 13 minutes.

Four of the songs on the second album are instrumental. Most notable are the tracks "Step Down," electric noise accompanying "Amazing Grace" and "Talking Guitar," a song that scales a funeral reaction to the former "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Record Label Website: http://www.rufrecords.de/

Artist's Website: http://www.bernardallison.com/flash.html

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Reviewed by: Jessica Rae Cortez

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