Robert Cray certainly does not have anything to be ashamed of with this CD. I have several Cray CDs and I would have to say that this is his best to date! I don't think there is a bad track on the whole CD. I especially liked 1040 Blues. Around that time of year we all get the blues. If you only buy one Robert Cray CD, this is the one to get.

I am not a big fan of Robert Cray so for me to say this is a great CD is like money in the bank. Cray plays all songs straight from the heart and there are some real gems here.

"1040 Blues" should be mandatory listening during tax season and listen to the emotive guitar playing on "You're Gonna Need Me" and Stay Go". Finally, the heartfelt performance on my favorite "Up and Down" is sure to send shivers down your spine. It may have been released 7 years ago, but the songs are as fresh today as they were back then. A good selection!

Cray delivers a strong punch with "Shame and a Sin," one of his best efforts. The songs are authentic, straight-ahead gems, and varied bill of fare offers Cray a chance to show off his considerable guitar-playing and vocal prowess.

One of the best things about Cray's playing for me is his mastery of material in minor keys. "Some Pain Some Shame" shows this off, as well as his lyrical guitar.

Best of all for me, however, is Cray's voice, which is the most compelling of all the younger blues players. It's a powerful voice, but it communicates tenderness and heartache with the convincing strength that the great soul singers had. To sample that power, try "I Shiver," "Don't Break This Ring," or best of all, "Passing By," a great slow blues that for me is one of the highlights of the CD.

Not that Cray disregards big, uptempo blues. His tax time lament, "1040 Blues," and the stinging "You're Gonna Need Me" prove that.

If you don't have any Cray, this is a great first addition to your collection. If you have others but not this one, don't delay in adding it.

Highly, highly recommended. Cray plays some of his most memorable and distinctive songs and shows that as he has refined and matured he has only gained in power and excitement. His singing and guitar playing are top notch, and the overall feel is grittier than many of his other albums. It's my favorite of his, and I've got them all, and it's also the album to play for those who dismiss Robert Cray as a bluesman for the wine and cheese set. In fact, this album is probably the best way to introduce anyone to Robert Cray short of dragging them to a live show.

After a string of solid albums, Cray came through with his best since Strong Persuader. '1040 Blues' is vintage Cray, blues with humor and a style that doesn't need a whiskey bottle. In 'I Shiver', Cray's guitar work is amazing - throbbing and moving up and down like you are feverish, delirious, and shivering. It is style that Cray has honed over many years and albums, one that is redefining the blues and putting Cray up with the all-time greats.

This is not the shallow "blues" of Eric Clapton or other pretenders. Robert Cray is the man! Pure soul.