Greatest Hits
White's career has spanned nearly 40 years, and some of the best songs on Deep Cuts are culled from his previous releases. "As the Crow Flies" (purchase/download), originally from The Train I'm On (1972) (compare prices), is the strongest song on the disc. Too bad it happens only two songs in. White's smooth, low vocals epitomize the swamp blues, and this song is a perfect example of how he's earned his nickname, "The Swamp Fox." Equal parts Eric Clapton and Leonard Cohen, White's blues is grumbly and dark, stealthy and tempting.Another highlight, "Aspen, Colorado" (purchase/download), was originally presented on Black and White (1969) (compare prices). In stark contrast to the low grumble of "As the Crow Flies," this tune is a little more country than blues. But, it's the kind of country music Townes Van Zandt played—the kind that makes you wand to drive down long, dark roads, or just turn off the lights and cry.
Lowlights
If White hadn't so adeptly displayed his capabilities as a songwriter and instrumentalist on the rest of the album, songs like "Homemade Ice Cream" (purchase/download) would, perhaps, not come across as so sub-par. There's nothing really bad about these songs, but the synthesized drum loops and strings detract from the grittiness of the pure, breathing blues on songs like "As the Crow Flies."It's almost as though there are two albums at work here—one full of earnest, dark blues tunes, and one full of contemporary electric looping. The looping is smooth and interesting, it just stands out as incongruous against some of the more forthright, swampy songs. It comes off a little more like a polished urban blues club, and less like the livingroom and back porch roots of the other tunes.
