Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram: Hard Road

Blues does not get the mainstream shine it deserves, and right now one of the few artists carrying that torch in a big way is Kingfish.

Over the last five years he has dropped incredible singles and two near flawless albums, locking himself in as one of the premier guitarists of this era. Not just in blues. Period.

Hard Road opens exactly how you want. Big, confident solos. Guitar work that borders on insane. From the jump you are reminded why Ingram's name carries so much weight.

There are a few straight ahead blues rock cuts like “Bad Like Me” that feel solid but a little safe. Not bad, just more traditional. Then he shifts gears with smoother tracks like “Standing on Business” and “Crosses,” giving the record breathing room and some welcome dynamic range.

Musically, he is operating on another level. The only contemporary player consistently in this conversation is Gary Clark Jr.. The riffs on “Voodoo Charm” are ridiculous. Confident. Loose. Precise. He blends Mississippi blues with funk, soul, and rock in a way that feels authentic. “Back to L.A.” is a perfect example of that fusion working at full strength.

The closer “Memphis” sends things out on a high note and reminds you that when he locks into structure and emotion at the same time, very few can touch him.

If there is a knock, it is cohesion. After a few years between releases, I expected something a bit more tightly constructed front to back. It feels slightly shorter and less thematically unified than I hoped. That said, this is still a great album. My expectations were just sky high.

Kingfish is not just preserving the blues. He is stretching it. Expanding it. Making it feel modern without sanding off its roots. Even if Hard Road does not fully clear the bar he set for himself, it further cements him as a blues powerhouse and one of the best guitarists working today.