:: Alex Gomez - Always Never

Alex Gomez

Alex Gomez plays a mean slide guitar, and so he should, having been a tutor with his own television show and instructional tape. He used this as a springboard to nab a deal to record his debut, ‘Slidin’ Down The Delta‘, following it up with 'Always Never’, his second exercise in raw delta blues. ‘Always Never’ sits comfortably alongside existing stripped down, rough and ready young white bluesmen such as Bob Log III and The Black Keys. Gomez is a solid one-man band, his sleazy whisky-and-cigarettes drawl accompanied by electric slide guitar and kick drum only. Presented here are ten uncomplicated boozy blues tales of Gomez's preoccupation with wine, women, and weed, though his order of preference is anybody's guess. His guitar prowess is undeniable, but it's the quality of his songs that falls short of the admittedly high standards set by the likes of The Black Keys. Overall, the tracks are somewhat interchangeable, showing Gomez to be something of a one-trick pony. This music is probably at its exhilarating best when experienced live and sweaty, preferably with plenty of wine, women, and weed on hand.