SEAN COSTELLO Source: River City Blues Society Date: 09/2008 Writer: Lee Gammon

This latest release is Sean’s fifth album. I have to admit that I had never heard of Sean Costello until I received this CD to review about three weeks ago. So, I did a little research on the internet and found plenty of information on this young bluesman. I was able to listen to a lot of music from his previous four CDs and there is no doubt that this is his best work to date.

The CD is a soulful collection of eleven songs in which you will hear many influences such as hints of Willie Dixon, B.B. King, Otis Rush and Freddie King. “Can’t Let Go”, the third track on the CD, is very reminiscent of a 70’s Al Green smooth R&B tune. In addition to “Can’t Let Go” other ear grabbing songs on the CD are “Anytime You Want”, “Same Old Game”, “Hard Luck Woman”, “Going Home” and “All This Time”. Sean’s vocals are dirty and gritty in the traditional bluesman style and his lyrics are emotional and thought provoking. His guitar work is good, but I would not say it’s his best. His tone is a little shallow. I would liken it to playing in a tin can. I found what I consider to be better guitar work on the web, where Sean is getting that good, in your face, meaty Gibson Les Paul sound that we are accustomed to. However, that is only my personal preference.

All in all, this is a very good album. The music and lyrics are well written and I would strongly recommend adding this to your collection. Blues fan or not, this is music everyone can tap their toes to. I found that the more I listen to it, the more I enjoyed it. I would rate this album an 8 out of 10.

While listening to the CD and formulating thoughts for this review, Sean tragically passed away. He died April 15th, 2008, just one day shy of his 29th birthday. Though no cause for his death was given by the media, I have sources in the international blues community that tell me he fell victim to the demons that haunt so many modern era musicians from Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon to Kurt Cobain. Sean Costello was on the path to becoming a blues great. It’s a shame that we won’t have the opportunity to watch this bright star explode. I feel a little heart broken myself, after just discovering and really starting to dig his music… he’s gone.

I find it a bit ironic that in the lyrics to “Going Home” the full line is “I’m going home to live with God”. And in “Hard Luck Woman” there is a line in which he says “I’m leaving you baby, I’m leaving here in a hearse”. Perhaps, he was foreshadowing his own fate.