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“SKIN DEEP” Buddy Guy (Silvertone) *****+
Yes kids, that’s a better than perfect score. When it comes to the blues Buddy Guy is a force of nature and “Skin Deep” is the best album he’s made, possibly ever.

I used to think that Buddy’s early 90’s ‘comeback’ album for Silvertone (“Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues”) was his apex- ‘til now. There’s always been a joy in his performance, but this disc marks the first time in ages that Guy’s had a hand in writing the majority of the songs and so this record has a certain extra something- call it soul, fire power, joi de vivre if you must, but I haven’t heard him sound this alive in some time.

Buddy Guy’s attitude in the studio was apparently catching, because he pulls some stellar performances from his collaborators as well. Derek Trucks and his wife, Susan Tedeschi are outstanding, as is Robert Randolph, but Buddy’s collaboration with Eric Clapton on “Every Time I Sing The Blues” deserves special mention, and should win a pantload of awards. They’ve played together before, most notably on “Don’t Know Which Way To Go” a spine-tingling performance from the “Rush” movie soundtrack, but this new track just raises things to another plane. Two blues guitar greats spurring each other on, with Clapton doing his best work since “Have You Ever Loved A Woman” on the Derek & The Dominoes “Layla” album in the 70’s… man, if this had been the only song on the album I’d still have paid full price and felt like I got the better end of the deal.

“Skin Deep” is certainly the best blues album I’ve heard since the turn of the century, maybe even the last couple of decades. Listening to a man of Buddy’s talent and experience at the top of his game is a thrill I will never grow tired of.

KEY CUTS: “Every Time I Sing The Blues” (w/ Clapton), “Show Me The Money” “Best Damn Fool”, “Too Many Tears” (with Trucks & Tedeschi)