Review Summary: How do you feel about Def Leppard, the blues and massive guitar solos?
Delta Deep is a blues rock supergroup comprised of Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo, percussionist Forrest Robinson and former Luther Vandross backup singer Debbi Blackwell-Cook. Founder Phil Collen is known for his obsession with soulful blues rock, and created the band as a side project to Def Leppard, a platform where he could vent his blues obsessions alongside an all-star supporting cast.
On their self titled debut, Delta Deep sometimes impress, yet often stumble with a mixed bag of electric blues tunes, hard rock choruses and tasty guitar leads from glam rock legend Phil Collen. Album opener and lead single “Bang the Lid” introduces the listener to Delta Deep with a ballsy guitar riff from Collen, followed by passionate rock wails from Debbi Blackwell-Cook. The chorus, which repeats “BANG THE LID” at a perfect tempo, is undeniably infectious and transports you back to the 80’s where you can find similar rock hooks.
The next two tracks, “Whiskey” and “Delta Deep” contrast beautifully, and are two of the strongest on the record. “Whiskey” is a 180 from the anthemic “Bang the Lid” and is perhaps the best example of ‘the blues’ to be found here. Debbi’s vocal melodies are as passionate as those in any blues tune you can name, matching the melancholy of Phil’s leads effortlessly in this story about the horrors of the bottle. It’s the blues, done beautifully. Phil’s solo towards the end of the track is perhaps the finest moment on the record; his ability to capture the blues through a gloomy, yet rockin’ guitar solo is the most impressive element of Delta Deep’s debut, and his masterful fretwork doesn’t stop there. “Down in the Delta” is the polar opposite of “Whiskey”, showcasing the upbeat, hard rock side of the record with powerful leads from Phil, catchy bass lines from Robert and raspy shrieks from Debbi. It’s perhaps the catchiest anthem on the record next to “Bang the Lid”. Unfortunately, these first few tracks are as good as it gets, as the next few songs tend to blend together.
“Delta Deep” is only as good as it’s first few songs and perhaps it’s mammoth closer “Mistreated”. “Treat her like Candy” has some admirable leads from Phil, but the song itself is so cheesy, it hurts. “Miss Me”, “Burnt Sally” and “Private Number” are all beautifully performed, but in terms of songwriting, lack anything memorable that compares to the genius of the first few tracks. Gorgeous solos are sprinkled across nearly every song, but the hooks and approach tend to get muddy in the middle portion, and even offensively redundant in rock tracks “Shuffle Sweet” and “Black Coffee”. There are some positives though, the pacing, balanced contrast of blues with soulful rock and absolutely stellar guitar work from Collen are consistent. Everything is precisely performed, and all musicians more than capable of creating both the blues and heartland rock vibes, but the songwriting takes a sharp dive until the monstrous conclusion “Mistreated” where the listener can forgive these shortcomings.
“Mistreated” is a nearly ten minute rock opus featuring vocals from Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott, and dear god, Phil Collen absolutely DESTROYS this track. Whereas “Whiskey” was a highlight for it’s delicate blues approach and melancholic solo, “Mistreated” grabs the listener with some of the most stunning guitar work in Collen’s career. The riffs are tight, ferocious and irresistible to any rock fan. And god damn, the solo is crushing. Collen tears this song apart with his frantic shredding and Joe Elliott gives an excellent performance on the mic to match the hard rock approach. It’s perhaps as good as any Def Leppard song from Pyromania. The perfect way to wrap up this record, no doubt,
On their self titled debut, Phil Collen and Delta Deep have found a way to gives you the blues, soul and hard rock wrapped up into a neat little package. While many of the songs exist in the shadow of the far better ones, and tracks like “Treat her Like Candy” and “Black Coffee” can be a bit cringe worthy, there is no denying that this is a musician’s album, with performances that invoke some of the best found in each genre. And for anybody who loves to listen to shredding for days on end- Collen excites with a batch of perfectly performed rock and blues solos that absolutely melt in your mouth.
