Rattleshake

Although Alligator Records no longer exclusively traffics in "genuine houserockin' music," as long as the label continues releasing albums from Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials it won't have to change slogans anytime soon. The sixth release from the veteran foursome is another rollicking, electrified romp through old-school Chicago boogie blues.

Lil' Ed Williams is the nephew of, and was schooled by, slide guitar legend J.B. Hutto, so it's no surprise that the Blues Imperials' sound is driven by the high-octane, raw, bottleneck attack popularized by Hutto and the great Elmore James. Both are covered here, and even though Williams's originals adhere to the standard blues format, the energy generated by this live-in-the-studio recording could power a small city.

You can practically see the sweat dripping down Ed's fez-covered head as he charges through the humorous yet driving "Icicles in My Meatloaf" and the fast shuffle of "Broken Promises." Slow blues such as "You Just Weren't There" and "Nobody's Fault But My Own" maintain a tough edge while providing a change of pace to the party-hearty rave-ups that dominate the album.

The no-frills production is crisp and crackling. It captures the excitement of the opening version of Holland/Dozier's rocking soul shouter "Leaving Here" as well as the heartfelt emotions in the country-influenced cover of Billy Joe Shaver's "Tramp on Your Street," the disc's most surprising track.

The blurred shot of the band in action on the cover perfectly represents the music inside--which, as the album's title accurately suggests, rattles, shakes, and rolls. --Hal Horowitz