J J CALE – ROLL ON

With a career as storied and well-regarded as J J Cale, there is potential for great excitement surrounding a new album from the ageing master. Cale belongs to that distinct family of white blues veterans who tend to mature like fine wine; John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Ramblin’ Jack to name a few. While not all of Cale’s material is amazing, he certainly has a knack for a narrative, and this rustic and odd little album is a solid showcase of his weather-beaten song-craft. With a voice like a split accordion, Cale hobbles his way through the torchy shuffle Who Knew, and the Randy Newman-esque Former Me with its tin-pan-alley piano cakewalk. There are smatterings of strange instrumentation to keep things interesting, like the bleeping 8-bit computer noises in the strangely effective Where The Sun Don’t Shine. Less effective are the rockier moments, such as the title track which comes across sounding more like a music store talent show than a rock and roll statement. There is personality strongly present in most of these songs – and J J Cale has earned enough stripes to be able to rest on his laurels a bit and make a comfortable record, for which purpose this album does its job. But you can’t help but wonder if pushed a little, this fellow might have been able to make something a little wilder to prick up the ears of the wider world.

**1/2