Somewhere in the devil’s file cabinet is an agreement with Warren Haynes. How else to explain the flow of monster riffs that Gov’t Mule has laid down over seven studio albums and countless live recordings? “By A Thread” continues the blueprint with 11 excellent examples of what makes Haynes and company tick.
Recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio in Texas, the CD opens with the stomping “Broke Down On The Brazos.” The track is pure Mule and highlights a Gibson guitar duel between Haynes and guest Billy Gibson of ZZ Top. Opening the album with such a strong number makes it a hard act to follow, but Haynes may have sold his soul for the aforementioned agreement with Beelzebub to keep the intensity coming over the next 10 tracks.
This was the first time the band wrote and recorded material in the studio without road testing the songs prior to the release date, and that method certainly hasn’t hurt the quality of the music. In fact, for just three players (and sometimes four), it sounds fresh and invigorating. The big guns come out on “Inside Outside Woman Blues #3” and “Railroad Boy.” The first track is a second cousin to Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” and close enough that some may shout “rip-off,” but Haynes’ work with the wah-wah pedal is stunning. “Railroad Boy” is an old traditional song souped up with a healthy does of electricity.
The range of styles makes “By A Thread” one of the better Gov’t Mule projects, and it certainly helps that the band — Haynes (vocals, guitar), Matt Abts (drums), Danny Louis (keyboards) and new bassist Jorgen Carlsson — has no weak links. The acoustic numbers like “Forevermore” play well alongside the reggae-tinged “Steppin’ Lightly” and “Frozen Fear,” and Danny Louis’ keyboards on “Monday Mourning Meltdown.” Halfway through “Scenes From A Troubled Mind,” the band kicks into a Led Zeppelin twist that steals a trick or two from “The Ocean.” It totally works, and once again, there’s no copycatting here, just reverence for what came before.
Despite being the busiest guy in rock music, Haynes remains one of the most prolific songwriters on the scene. “By A Thread” adds a slew of new material to Gov’t Mule’s live arsenal and further proof of Hayne’s midnight rendezvous at the crossroads.
Rating: W W W W
