Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Singer, guitarist and songwriter Tommy Ray O'Dell has been making righteous blues music for the past 20 years and has recorded many albums which have previously been reviewed in these pages. 'How Many Ways' is a softer album filled with bluesy love songs all dedicated to the righteous love that he shares with his wife Elizabeth. All very pleasant but a whole album of this stuff is a little overwhelming especially when said spouse turns up to do guest vocals on "My O My" singing about how she met her Tommy for the first time and how cute he looked. Hmmm. Still there's no doubting that there's plenty of bluesology worth celebrating and Mr O'Dell is one heck of a guitarist. Highlights? I like "Amsterdam" with its horns and swampy feel and the groove of "Miracles". I guess Song Of Songs is the Biblical model for an album like this and I guess it works to an extent but somehow, despite the fine musicianship and production, I remain unmoved.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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