Artist Aaron Williams And The Hoodoo

Madison blues-rock trio Aaron Williams And The Hoodoo's 2009 album, It Ain't Easy, doesn't evoke any images of Williams suffering alone in a shack along the Mississippi, but rather of a funky roadhouse rave-up. Drummer Eric Shackleford's snappy snare and hi-hat push help to give the band a streak of New Orleans funk, so there's more going on here than Williams' brightly amped guitar and thick-tongued baritone vocals. Hammond organ (courtesy of Williams' recently deceased father) goes well with the music's shiny finish, and "Hypnotize" starts the album off with a feisty pulse, thanks to its balance of slide-guitar riffs and syncopation. The Hoodoo doesn't have the Midwest's most subtle take on blues, but its best moments are pretty fun regardless.  

Updated 03/09/2010