The Love Machine

Joey Love & Blues Xpress
Live, Raw and Uncut
(BJ1002)

Any album sporting a photo of a bull's butt is going to have my attention. Of course, when the album turns out to be a live show from Mr. Love, I am all ears. This one comes to us from the Saxon Pub in some hick town called Austin. It's a simple set up Joey on guitar and vocals, Randy Vance on bass and Peter Kaplan on skins. But don't let the word simple fool you. Love and associates deliver the goods.

For those who aren't familiar with Mr. Love, he's started playing guitar at the age of four. He moved to Dallas via his native Pennsylvania in 1979. He paid his dues as a second hand in a bunch of bands around town; learning the blues. In 95, he formed the Blues Xpress. After two CDs and an appearance on the KNON benefit CD, Love and company know how to put a song together. And these guys are hard workers too. There isn't a week that goes by that they aren't playing somewhere in or around town.

This is a short CD, which is not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, Joey has distilled the good stuff into concentrated form. Listen to these boys tear it up on "Baby U Mean" or "Last Broken Heart." I can tell what Joey Love is not short on: solid tone or smooth vocal styling. The band takes it down a notch or two with the slow, ballad "Givin' Up On Love." It's a mellow piece that has a certain grace to it. They get the funk turned up to medium heat on the jumping tune "Smilin' Cause I'm Through With You."

The last track is a little something called "Mud Buggin'" and it's a show stopper (literally). After the usual band introductions, each member take a turn showing off their talents. When Love takes off on the solo here, it is elegant and fun; something missing from a lot of the performers today.
- Bill Fountain

September 2000 Southwest Blues
- Southwest Blues Magazine

Live, Raw and Uncut (Big Jam 1002) documents an opening set in Austin from Joey Love & The Blues Xpress. Love's trio concentrates on no-nonsense Texas shuffles ("Last Broken Heart"), subtle rock ballads ("Givin' Up On Love") and funk-kissed workouts ("Baby U Mean"). His guitar work is non-derivative, giving up a hint of models such as Stevie Ray Vaughan in the nice, clean Strat tone and in the phrasing, avoiding Albert King-style licks entirely. Love's voice is underwhelming, but he doesn't over-reach. The chord work behind "Lead Me Through Your Door" (melodically related to "Help Me Make It Through the Night") is graceful, Mayfield - inspired stuff. Good work !
- Blues Review (Issue No. 65 March 2001)