Boomer's Story
RY COODER
(Warner Bros.)
Some folks protested when Ry Cooder placed ninth — ahead of ax legends Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck — on Rolling Stone's list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." But anyone who has heard Cooder on vintage albums like Boomer's Story knew the magazine was on target. The disc finds the singer/slide guitar master expertly interpreting obscure Depression-era numbers such as the title track. He makes them sound poignant and fresh, his lyrical playing complementing rather than overshadowing the timeless tales. Another highlight on this dud-free album is Cooder's emotive, instrumental rendition of the soul standard "Dark End of the Street."
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2007.