by Al Campbell
Tommy Castro's sixth release for the Blind Pig label, Painkiller, picks up where his 2003 set, Soul Shaker, left off. This time around, producer John Porter -- who has worked with Santana, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy -- positions Castro's Delbert McClinton/Southside Johnny vocal grit in front of a punchy horn section and rounds out the date with a few guest artists. Unlike many similar modern blues projects of good intentions but lackluster performances, the combinations on Painkiller never sound forced. In particular, the Albert Collins track, &A Good Fool Is Hard to Find,& has Coco Montoya and Castro trading vocal jabs and guitar riffs, and Angela Strehli's passionate vocal on Freddie King's &If You Believe (In What You Do)& is likewise another highlight of this overall triumphant rock 'n' soul album.