Mojo Palace (Clique)

By: Michael Popke
Milwaukee Shepherd Express

If blues-rock guitar slingers like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang bore you about three or four tracks into their records, here's a worthy alternative. With a few exceptions, the Juju Kings stay away from the straight-ahead redundancy of blues-rock by incorporating elements from other genres into their music.

That's not to say, however, that the Juju Kings aren't firmly rooted in the blues tradition. But with a lethal combination of Stevie Ray Vaughan licks, fist-pumping choruses and dusty yet likable vocals, the Jujus extend their appeal. Highlights include the raucous yet melodic "If You Fall," the soaring ballad "Another Lonely Night" and the heavy-duty honky-tonker "Juke Joint Jump."

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