Album Review: Two takes on Bob Log III's My Shit Is Perfect

He likes this, he likes that. Our writers tell you what they think about Bob Log III.

Take one by Kenny McMurtrie:

Tucson's Bob Log III has been around for a good few years now and here lets loose on the unsuspecting public album number five - another collection of distinctly left-field and occasionally suggestively (or even downright lewdly) titled proto-blues workouts featuring only himself and his drum-machine. Very much a case of "if it ain't broke ..." and still a winning formula.

Never quite as frenetic on this release as, for example, his late lamented label mate R.L. Burnside, this is nonetheless the creation of an innovator in his field, shot through on such tracks as 'Shake A Little, Wiggle It, And Jiggle It Too', 'Manipulate Your Figments', 'Bucktooth Potato' and ' Bang Your Thing At The Ball' with a sense of playfulness and humour all too often lacking from the work of bigger, slicker, world-dominating artists. None of the tracks are quite as exuberant as the classic 'I Want Your Shit On My Leg', but that surely still features in the live set, so can no doubt be experienced along with all the new goodness in the UK for the first couple of weeks of April.

Take two by Joseph Rowan:

Bob Log III is nothing if not a great musical eccentric. The slide-guitar playin' one-man band is never seen out of an all-in-one blue jumpsuit and motorcycle helmet, sings through a telephone receiver and plays drums with his feet. He plays old fashioned delta blues and, most amusingly, has invented a drink called Boob Scotch (scotch that has been stirred with a nipple). In short, he is quite a character.

The potential trouble that Bob has, along with other artists of a similar ilk, is that his rather novel approach may be difficult to sustain effectively across a whole album. Given that My Shit Is Perfect is his fourth studio album, the question is whether he can provide music interesting enough to match his persona.

In a word, the answer to this question is no. Over 13 tracks Bob Log's limited instrumentation begins to get a bit samey and certain songs are really quite unmemorable. However, there is still much fun to be here. At over five minutes, surprisingly long opener 'Goddamn Sounds Good' sets up a reasonably low-key beginning (clearly Bob liked the riff enough to play it for another five minutes at the end of the album) and the same "cleaner" sound is heard on the earlier tracks, to some success. There are also hints of a country/bluegrass style sound on a few tracks, notably 'Mr Sis Boom Bah' and the slower, more melodic 'Bumper Car'.

In addition to that Bob has a few tricks which always means he can rustle up something interesting. Gimmicks aside he is a fantastic blues guitarist, as evidenced on guitar workouts such as 'Bucktooth Potato' and 'You, Or You And You, And Me'. Furthermore his trademark sense of slightly juvenile humour is still present: in the first line of the album he extorts the listener to "turn up my fucking guitar" and single 'Bump Pow! Bump Bump Bump Pow! Bump Pow! Bump Bump Bump, Baby! Bump Pow! Bump Bump Bump Pow! Bump Pow! Bump Bump Bump'; a dirtier, scuzzier number, contains the entire lyrics of the song in its title. Similarly, the album name and song title 'Shake A Little, Wiggle It, And Jiggle It Too' is vintage Bob. At least you know what you're getting with him.

Overall, it seems that Bob Log's brand of dirty delta blues is best experienced live, where ladies are asked to sit on his legs while he plays, and fresh boob scotches are made. However, there is something to recommend him on record, even if the formula can't stretch across a whole album. It's difficult to fault Bob for trying: the blues seems very much "in his soul", as trite as that sounds, and it is impressive that he can do so much with such a tired genre.

In some respects he comes across as a more risqué, more authentic-feeling Seasick Steve, and Bob Log may well be a good next investment for fans of Steve. Most importantly, there should always be room in music for an eccentric like Bob Log III so I think we should all raise a nice, cold boob scotch to him.