Earl Thomas and the Blues Ambassadors April 17, 2010

Earl Thomas has tapped into the spirit that created the classic R&B/soul sound. Not only is the production free of almost all contemporary flourishes but the songwriting and playing -- especially the horn section -- is so authentic you'll be checking the credits for the recording date. The singer's voice emotive, smooth but gutsy -- nails these tracks, but he never hogs the show or the arrangements, which are crisp and tight.