Although he doesn't show much imagination anywhere on the disc, Ernie Johnson's second album It's Party Time is a fine collection of contemporary soul-blues. Most of the record is devoted to originals, which are solid numbers in the classic Chicago and Stax traditions, even if they're not particularly memorable. They do give Johnson an opportunity to spill his guts out vocally, and he proves to be a good vocalist in the tradition of Bobby Bland, Little Milton and Z.Z. Hill, even if he doesn't quite reach their heights. He ...
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Although he doesn't show much imagination anywhere on the disc, Ernie Johnson's second album It's Party Time is a fine collection of contemporary soul-blues. Most of the record is devoted to originals, which are solid numbers in the classic Chicago and Stax traditions, even if they're not particularly memorable. They do give Johnson an opportunity to spill his guts out vocally, and he proves to be a good vocalist in the tradition of Bobby Bland, Little Milton and Z.Z. Hill, even if he doesn't quite reach their heights. He is good enough, however, to make It's Party Time an enjoyable record for fans of that style. ~ Thom Owens, Rovi
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