PROMISING YOUNG TALENT STILL EXISTS ON THE Chicago blues circuit-at least if you know where to find it. If identifying the Windy City's next generation of blues standouts sounds like an intriguing quest, there's no need to look any further than the Joe Moss Band. The albums title track 'Monster Love," vividly indicates Joe's musical leanings-cool horns, percolating organ, and a funk-stained groove frame Joe's attractive vocal and stinging guitar work. "Need Your Love," "Mad Mad Mad," and "Lost My World" strike thoroughly infectious tempos, their slinky, dance-friendly bass lines recalling the years of onstage experience Moss acquired as one of Buddy Scott's Rib Tips inside fabled South Side joints such as Lee's Unleaded Blues and The Checkerboard Lounge. But when he's in the mood, Joe can grab hold of more traditional fare and wring it for all it's worth. "Love My Baby" swings with horn -fueled impunity. "So Scared" is a straight-out-of-the Delta stomper, and "Train Tracks" closes the set by proving conclusively that Joe doesn't need a band at all to get his point across. Chicago blues aficionados will want to keep a close eye on Joe Moss . The idiom needs all the help it can get as we hurtle into this new millennium with precious few legitimate young blues heroes to anticipate, and he's in a position to make a real contribution.

USA - JOE MOSS "Monster Love" 212 Records, 13 tracks, 1:00:45 hrs.

"This is the second release from the Chicago guitarist/singer and his band. A regular at Chicago's House of Blues and Buddy Guy's Legends, Moss is a monster showman hardly ever off a stage. Having secured his break with Buddy Scott he went on to be a sideman to many Chicago's big names, where he got to tour Europe on several occasions. Joe along with his younger brother Nick (Nick Moss & the Flip Tops), are the current young Turks on Chi-town's blues circuit who base their sound on a rich 50's Blues sound. Joe has a love for the "We Three Kings" B.B, Albert, & Freddie, with the albums two covers coming from Freddie & B.B. King, "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" & "Please Love Me". Joe has come up with a great bunch of tunes reminiscent of Johnny "Guitar" Watson, SRV, B.B./Albert & Freddie King, Roy Buchanan and a few West Coast guitarists. If you are jaded by single toned guitar players then no need for an ear syringing, "Monster Love" is at hand. Amongst Joe's soul side there is a smattering of funk also there's some honky-tonk country figures. The only complaint I have is the slightly compressed production sound, though clean enough it doesn't bristle in the same way as a top studio job. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's son, Kenny Smith plays drums on seven tracks with no less than three keyboard players, and Dez Desormeaux providing all the horns. The band is tight with a big stage kind of sound. Those who have heard Joe's debut album know Joe wrote a song for his wife "Oh Sandra", well it's updated herein adding "03" to the titling, and it's a big rockabilly cum western swing tune. At the time of writing there are no mp3's for the new disc, but as there are samples for his previous on the bands website, then there probably will be by the time you read this - checkout www.joemossband.com. Chicago is still producing Blues talent which is evident from the Moss Bros. - Blues tailoring that's a cut above the rest! .................."

Billy Hutchinson, Blues Matters Magazine UK

"Joe Moss comes from some fine blues stock. His brother is Nick Moss, leader of Chicago blues band The Flip-Tops. Joe is quite a talented singer, writer, and guitarist in his own right, and the release of "Monster Love" oughta bring him national acclaim!! Joe spent his formative years with Buddy Scott's blues band, Scotty and the Rib Tips. (See Alligator Records' "Living Chicago Blues Vol.3" for an introduction to this fine group) After Buddy's passing in 1994, Joe gigged around Chicago until setting out on his own in 1997. Joe's sound is a bit more "groove-oriented" than traditional "Chicago-style" combos, aimed to make people get up and dance! Check out the horn and organ-driven grooves of the title track and "Mad Mad Mad" for some get-on-the-floor boogie music, as well as the neat shuffle that serves as Joe's ode to his wife, "Oh Sandra '03." Joe is in tune with his roots, too. Check out "So Scared" and "Train Tracks," which sound like they came right off Highway 61. Our two favorites are an excellent slow-burnin' "Have You Ever Loved A Woman," and the rollicking, highly-danceable "Please Love Me," with some cool barrelhouse piano from Bill LeClaire backing Joe's stinging, jumping lead and dead-on vocals! If you need proof that good young talent still exists to carry on the torch of the blues, then "don't go no further" than Joe Moss and "Monster Love." Check 'em out and---ENJOY!!

Until next time..."

Don and Sheryl Crow