Mark Doyle and the Maniacs - Comin' Home (CD)

While Mark Doyle and his rowdy blues revelers’ 2009 debut CD, Shake ‘Em On Down: A Salute to the ‘60s British Blues Boom, was a blistering tribute album, their second effort, Comin’ Home (Free Will), finds the band confident in their original material. The seminal Willie Dixon nugget “I Just Want to Make Love to You” may seem an odd opener for a band that is looking to move beyond the tribute niche, yet Doyle’s tasty riffs and Frank DeFonda’s snappy drums give the tune an unexpected levity. Despite Jack Lipton’s growl, there’s more fun than heat here. “Payback’s a Bitch,” written by Doyle, showcases Michael P. Ryan’s skillful, Southern-styled vocals. The instrumental “Mark’s Boogie,” an ode to Jeff Beck’s “Jeff’s Boogie” from his Yardbird days, combines exquisite guitar work with a melody that, oddly, conjures Big Joe Williams’ “Please Don’t Go” or Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” - or both, depending on your mood. True blues fans will love Lipton’s vocal on “I Got To Know You”, but perhaps “Soledad” should be left to Eric Burdon, who is widely regarded as Britain’s best blues vocalist. The most unusual cut on the disc is “Live Snakes.” Written by Doyle and Ryan, the tune is all-out slinky fun. Doyle sings with a slight Marc Bolan vibe - think T. Rex meets Peter Green. The title cut is a lively shuffle with more tasty licks from Doyle, but Ryan’s voice seems a bit restrained. “I Ain’t Done Wrong,” “Maniac” and “Under My Breath” keep the fun rolling with the vocalists showing what sets them apart, and what each does best. While Doyle’s guitar is often the star on these new tracks, Ryan’s solid bass playing and Terry Quill’s own guitar work, not to mention his harp, give the band a definite signature sound.  - Tammy DiDomenico