Part of the Sacred Steel movement,
the Lee Boys
(most of whom are related) put pedal steel at the front of their
gospel
. But unlike contemporaries like
the Campbell Brothers
, there's a slight and unusual
country
tinge to their
blues
-y
sound, making them sound, at times, a little like
the Allman Brothers
circa 1973-74, as they show on
"Walk With Me."
They're all fiery players, but it's
Emanuel Roosevelt Collier
, the pedal steel man, who's the standout, with a seemingly endless bag of tricks and licks, although he can lay back and let the melody work, too, as he does on
"Amazing Grace."
While he takes the spotlight, everyone contributes, from guitarist
Alvin Lee
(not to be confused with the bloke from
Ten Years After
), and singers
Keith
and
Derrick Lee
, who each bring different qualities to the music. The rhythm section is rock-steady, but the band rocks the house like no one's business. A fabulous record from a band that's going to be heard more and more. ~ Chris Nickson