Wish I Was in Heaven

R.L. Burnside is a 73-year old Mississippi bluesman who doesn’t like to sit still. His jones for pushing traditional blues into new territory got him in trouble on his last outing, Come On In—he sounded lost buried beneath Beck producer Tom Rothrock’s heavy-handed production. Here, though, the relatively sparse and atmospheric accompaniment fits much more comfortably. Tom Waits sideman Smokey Hormel helps bring some of Waits’ boozy, cosmopolitan vibe to tracks like “Hard Time Killing Floor” and “Got Messed Up,” while the deft turntable scratches of DJ Swamp and DJ Pete B blend seamlessly in with the album’s classic feel. A few light rave-ups (“Too Many Ups,” “Nothin’ Man”) interrupt the album’s blackhearted mood, but Burnside’s gets it back on track flexing his low moan on the scorching “See What My Buddy Done” and punctuating “Bad Luck City” with a pained falsetto. With his eyes looking forward but his heart drowned by the past, Burnside’s proof positive the blues are alive and well.