Gov't Mule - Shout!

As we near the end of the year, my thoughts are turning towards naming my albums of 2013. One that is fighting it's way into contention is 'Shout!' by Gov't Mule. The album itself is pretty damn good but what I feel really sets it apart is the second CD on which the album has been re-recorded with a series of special guests. So, on 'Funny Little Tragedy' we get Elvis Costello, while 'Forsaken Saviour' features Dave Matthews. Other guests include Ben Harper, Doctor John, Jim James, Ty Taylor, Glenn Hughes and Myles Kennedy. All are good but the highlights for me are Steve Winwood singing 'When The World Gets Small', Grace Potter on 'Whisper In Your Soul' and the sublime 'Scared to Live' which features Toots Hibbert.

Don't be fooled into thinking that this bonus CD is just a rehash of the original album with additional vocals. The songs have been completely re-recorded, some of the longer ones benefitting from being shortened slightly. The track sequence has been restructured and despite featuring the same songs, it sounds like a totally different album. So, two for the price of one. In these hard times, what more could you ask for?