Romance Without Finance

This is a friendly bit of contempo Caucasian blues from this native New Yorker, now Chicagoan. Freund has a slick, clear, masterful guitar manner that combines the sweet soulfulness of Robert Cray with the bite of Albert Collins or Johnny Copeland. His originals are derivative but likable genre pieces, and his homages ("Love Me Or Leave Me," "Hard Headed Woman," and the swingin' "Blue Monk") are astutely chosen and well played. The only problem is Freund's voice; he really can't sing a lick. Even at his most impassioned he's merely serviceable...