Shine Eyed Mister Zen

1	The House Carpenter 6:43
2	River Rat Jimmy 3:32
3	Hobo's Son 4:07
4	Katy 6:13
5	Wandering Away 5:05
6	Dock Boggs Country Blues 6:23
7	Capman Bootman 4:55
8	Train Carried My Girl from Town 4:25
9	Piece by Piece 6:30
10	Many a Time 4:15
11	Goodnight Irene 5:39

Barnes & Noble

With his gravelly voice and deft touch on slide guitar, Kelly Joe Phelps reaches deep into the heart of country blues and comes back with their essence. The dark, haunting ambiance of the Delta infuses his interpretations of "Dock Boggs Country Blues" and the folk ballad "House Carpenter," as well as the tale of "River Rat Jimmy." Phelps's combination of primal blues wisdom and his flair for contemporary songwriting rank him with top country blues masters such as Chris Smither and Rory Block. SHINE EYED MISTER ZEN closes the gap between the smoky midnight jazz of John Coltrane (Phelps was formerly a free-jazz bassist) and the twists and turns of Mississippi Fred McDowell's Delta mysticism, yet it's shot through with traces of hillbilly music, gospel, and country. With each turn of phrase -- lyrical and instrumental -- Phelps's music discovers a new crossroads of imagination and follows it all the way down. Kerry Dexter

All Music Guide

Phelps' third album is an accomplished serving of country blues that combines the sweet and sour power of his guitar playing with the equally bittersweet charge of Phelps' wearied voice. Shine Eyed Mister Zen features a lot of singing, but most importantly it spotlights the singing of Phelps' slide guitar, which integrates a humid and natural style that invokes the mystery and religion that these mostly original songs lean toward. The dusty delta Phelps conjures here is at once familiar and nostalgic; it's to his credit that Phelps is able to add his own voice to the spiritual mix. A mystical and unaffected recording. Michael Gallucci