Out of the Madness

Whereas guitar phenom Trucks' first album was of the improvisational sort to the highest degree, fusing Coltrane and Sun Ra to Hendrix, this second effort (his first for the House of Blues imprint) puts his playing and music more firmly in Southern American roots music territory. With guest shots from Warren Haynes ("Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," "Fourty-Four" and "Death Letter"), Larry McCray ("Ain't That Lovin' You"), Matt Tutor (vocals on "Preachin' Blues" and "Alright") and Jimmy Herring, there's more of a jam session feeling to this disc than that of a cohesive album. But Trucks also continues to blaze out with hot solos on the more rocking efforts aboard, like "Young Funk," "Kickin' Back," "Spillway" and the closing "Deltaraga." Even New Orleans funk beats come in for a look-see on "Look-ka Py-Py," a curious addition. All in all, a young artist still showing promise.