CD reviews: Seasick Steve

Despite Seasick Steve's best efforts to tamper little with the unfussy roadhouse swamp-blues that set his live outings afire, his recordings have necessarily lacked the flavour of sweat and stale beer that would round off the experience.

And so it is that he makes another valiant attempt to infuse his seventh studio album with some ''stank'', faring best with the title track and Barracuda '68, two muscle-bound boogie highlights.

Of the softer numbers, banjo ballad In Peaceful Dream taps a hillbilly vein and Right On Time is a quite lovely story of separated lovers.

• Seasick Steve. Sonic Soul Surfer. Caroline International. 

• Three and a half stars (out of five) 

Single download: Summertime Boy
For those who like: The Black Keys' early albums, Swamp Thing

- Jeff Harford