Chicago mints blues artists like a factory spits out widgets. Not all of them pass inspection, but Nick Moss has passed the tests of time and substance, and here he delivers a potent working-man's blues-rock blend. His version of Chester Burnett's "Louise" is a bare-fisted boogie with just a touch of southern-rock swagger. Moss loves to stretch out, too, going past the seven-minute mark on three tunes, including the original "Privileged at Birth," which offers a message of serenity: "There ain't no shame in things you can't control."

Louis R. Carlozo

Louis R. Carlozo is a music producer in Chicago.

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