SCOTT HOLT
KUDZU

JANUARY 11st 2011

In the liner notes, there is the definition: Kud.zu \ ‘kud-(,)zu\ n – “foot-a-night-vine”, “the vine that ate the South”, and the record you’re listening to now.

This musical vine is about to take this rock and roller to the roots and blues. Scott Holt has cultivated his skills as a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and road hound as the guitarist in blues legend Buddy Guy’s touring band. Don’t be confused, this album is not a Buddy Guy tribute album by any stretch of the imagination.

Scott steps into the spotlight and kills it. This album takes all of the components of blues, country, southern rock, and even shines in a couple spots as disguised rockers. The album kicks off with the poignant ‘Living In Fear.’ The song is a country and blues infused tune that has lyrics that hit home – this song could not have been written in any other era. Holt took all of the emotion of the last 10 years and wrapped it in music.

This CD trucks along delivering above average blues-rock… then it grabs me and shakes me. The third track, ‘Girl From ‘84’ is great. It doesn’t make me sentimental for a specific lady from my past, but rather for my past itself, as it stirs images of an easier and more carefree time.

After that, ‘Wicked Grip’ is exactly that. This tune gripped this rocker and made me sit up straight and imagine what this song would sound like with a screaming guitar solo and heavier vocal – this one could have been recorded by any of several mid 80’s rock bands and carried off as a great sex and rock ‘n’ roll tune.

I also love Track 7 – ‘S&M.’ No perv, it’s about Sex & Money, but make no mistake the bass line made me start gyrating in my car… it instantly drew a comparison in my head to the greasy-sexy rhythm line in Three Days Grace’s ‘Animal I Have Become.”

All I can say is Kudos to Scott Holt for Kudzu.

4 out of 5 stars!!!

Todd