CD Review

If Jimmy Buffett puts you on a Florida beach, with the waves at your feet and a Corona in your hand - Mofro sets you down on a rickety porch in the everglades, rocking chair underneath you, and a hot summer breeze rolling over the murky waters. The air is thick down here, and so is JJ Grey’s signature swampland blues. His stripped down, minimalist approach lays the groundwork for an honest, down-home storyteller with one hell of a voice, and genuine love for the swamplands where he grew up.

Joined by guitar-partner Daryl Hance, Mofro’s sophomore release, Lochloosa, is a humble nod to these more remote Florida surroundings, apparently being infiltrated by more and more “Mickey Mouse” elements than ever before. Grey tells the tale through colorful, backporch folklore, building strength through his uniquely identifiable delta blues adaptation. Emphatic enough, you can feel the overalls on your skin, the sweat on your brow and the pestering mosquitos on your arm. Inviting southern choir hymns beckon in “Fireflies” and “The Wrong Side.” Downhome beats and gritty funk drive “That Boy” and "Six Ways From Sunday.” And the somber, solo work in “The Long Way Home” brings Grey to the forefront of singer-songwriters. But what makes Lochloosa more than a record is the title track itself. Not only is the tune a notable standout among many runner-ups, it’s most representative of his distinct artistic voice and the best piece of his still very young career.