Track Listing

1. Night Train
2. Little Girl Blues
3. I Smell a Rat
4. Fever for the Bayou
5. Lost in Your Lovin'
6. Golden Crown
7. I Can't Hold Out
8. Blues Is Here to Stay
9. Got Love If You Want It
10. Blues So Bad
11. My Bucket's Got a Hole in It

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8538 in Music
• Released on: 2005-03-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Houma homeboy Tab Benoit may have snuck up on some blues fans, but his status as the best and brightest of modern Louisiana bluesmen is now too obvious for any to ignore. His swamp-saturated sound and incisive Telecaster attack, also heard on the Whiskey Store and Whiskey Store Live dueling-guitar albums with Jimmy Thackery, easily personalizes classics, such as Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out," featured here with saxist Jimmy Carpenter. But Benoit's at his best with the bayou beat. As on 2003's The Sea Saint Sessions, Benoit spotlights the musical heritage of New Orleans by using two guest vocalists who are Crescent City icons: Mardi Gras Indian "Big Chief" Monk Boudreaux and dynastic percussionist/vocalist/composer Cyrille Neville. Boudreaux vocally parades through "Golden Crown" at a fittingly funky Mardi Gras tempo, while Neville provides two songs: the percussion-embellished "Little Girl Blues" and the history lesson "The Blues Is Here to Stay," on which he vocally duets with Benoit between some of the album's best guitar work.

Buddy Guy's "I Smell a Rat" is the album's longest track as Benoit, beginning with a tasty intro, takes his most extended guitar workout, conjuring up a late-night blues club feel in the process. Benoit also contributes three originals, including the zydeco-tinged title track, an anthem of Cajun pride that serves him well as a signature song. Also his is the swamp stomper "Night Train," the album opener. At the other end is a surprise finale, a sublime front-porch, finger-picking acoustic rendition of "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It". --Michael Point

Customer Reviews

Blues from the heart
This is great! You could start and finish your review with that simple statement. I always admired Mr. Benoit work, however from my point of view this has to be his best effort to date. This album is one of the best blues CD I have ever came across. Marvellous guitar playing and even better singing throughout the entire work. If you are looking for a true "blues" CD, a blues CD with the capital "B", played the way it meant to be, do not waste your time looking for more, you have found it. More than very highly recommended this is just an essential purchase for all the blues fan around the word. For sure one of the best release so far in 2005 and maybe one of the best ever. Just pick it up and you wont be disappointed.

AWESOME!!!
This is Tab's best studio CD since Standing on the Bank. I Smell a Rat is the BOMB! Tab is mistaken for a "new" artist. He has been recording since 1992 and only plays smaller venues. This is part of the reason for his limited notariaty. The other part of the equation is his determination to play only blues and not go commercial (rock) with his music. I own every CD he has put out. Each one shows his progression as a guitarist and performer. I think Fever for the Bayou is a return to his earlier music with out all the extra instruments and vocals. If you ever have the chance to see Tab live, do it. The show will blow you away!

His Best Work !
Tab Benoit deserves the best. He is one of a kind guitar player that plays with the heart. It's amazing how he manages to release wonderful white blues albums being faithful to the blues roots and never falling in the rock and roll trap. He wants to keep the genre as pure as possible and he succeeds in it.
Fever For The bayou is as varied as his last albums, ranging from first class electric blues to cajun and even acoustic in one of the songs, however, even I love all his recordings I think this one is his best work ever. The production is audiophile, everything sounds crisp and clear.
I never thought that someone would dare to play a rendition ( not just a cover) of the powerful and bitter Buddy Guys's I SMELL A RAT and I was blown after listening to Tab's, WOW !!!
I had the pleasure to attend to one of his concerts and not only was amazed of his enormous talent as a musician, he was a humble and down to earth gentleman as well.