From: Bill Salmon <netfest@MYCROFT.MEXIA.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list BLUES-L <BLUES-L@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
Subject: REVIEW: "Doing it All Myself" IronMan Mike Curtis

Well, I'm not much at reviewing, so I will keep it short.. as it says,
Mike does it all himself, and it is phenomenal..

Track 1: Next Time You See Me I'll Be Gone: A short (1:38) quick, upbeat
song with clean vocals, crisp harp, and solid guitar.

Track 2: Things Ain't Gonna Be The Same: A slower, more traditional blues
song. Great blend of harp and vocals. Strong beat with spare guitar work.

Track 3: Rollin & Tumblin: Fast paced, heavy on the harp, and very good
harp at that. Reminiscent of the "catching a train and going" genre of
Blues. The harp on this is worth the price of the CD alone.

Track 4: Play Them Blues: And play them he does. More great harp (though
he calls it 'gasp' a harmonica). Clean guitar, upbeat tempo.

Track 5: Moulin Rouge: All harp with a clean guitar backing. Unusual in
it's clarity and style. Tells a clear blues tale without a word.

Track 6: Rogaine: You had to be there.. Mike's biggest request.. NOT FOR
THE HAIR IMPAIRED. A fun song that lightens and enlivens this CD.

Track 7: Smokin' Harmonica: Strangely enough, this one is short on harp,
and very heavy on guitar. As on all of Mikes' stuff, this shows his clean,
distinct guitar work. No pyrotechnics, just mellow laid back listening
music. When you get the urge to Flame, sit back, get a cup of coffee and
listen to this, guaranteed to soothe and relax.. Very Nice.

Track 8: Ugly Woman: Dark, deep blues. This is the traditional blues
again.  Woman must be ugly as spit, and this song sure comes over strong.
Great deep beat. (Yeah folks that's foot base and drum machine.) Hard to
believe this is Woman must be ugly as spit, and this song sure comes over
strong. Great deep beat. (Yeah folks that's foot base and drum machine.)
Hard to believe this is just one musician.

Track 9: What's Goin' On: More great harp, a strong instumental, less
bluesey than the rest, but a wonderful change of pace.

Track 10: Say It Don't Spray It: The irrepressible IronMan once agian
comes through with fantastic vocals and his unique sense of humor. Crisp
harp work, love that back up band on this one.. (OK, so it is just Mike)

Track 11: Take 5/Blue Rondo A La Turk: Harp Tour de Force, with just the
right guitar to really set the harp out.  Quick changes (hooks?) and solid
back.

Track 12: Billie Jean: Amazing, you can almost thear the organ in the
background on this fine mix showcasing Mike's incredible ability to "Do It
All Himself".  A great ending to a great CD.

Hopefully, one of the real reviewers on Blues-L will redo this review in
the near future, as I don't have the expertise they do to give this fine
work it's just due.

A wonderful CD, well worth the listen, and one that IronMan Mike Curtis is
well justified in being proud of.  Get a copy and listen to one of our own
showing why Blues-L is the number one place to be for the Blues.

Bill (wish I could play ANY instrument like that) Salmon