Paul Mark & the Van Dorens – “Blood & Treasure”

October 2008

Submitted by blue barry – Smoky Mtn. Blues Society

 

Radiation Records is turning loose another Paul Mark & the Van Dorens CD this one called “Blood & Treasure.”  A great follow up to their latest  CD, “Trick Fiction.”  You remember, the one with the cool bottle opener guy with 4 eyes.  Well this cover is just as great.  Actually even better.  Now to the music.  Paul Mark & the Van Dorens hail from New York City.  However, they recorded these tracks in Memphis, just to get the vibes.  Also to work with Jeff Powell, a fabulous producer.  With the 11 cuts  on here you will find some excellent music, blues, songwriting, and new ideas.  In some liner notes Paul talks about being a cabbie in Manhatttan, college days, playing guitar, and life in general.  He’s one of us.  Nothing fancy here.  No over dubs, pitch correction or something he can’t reproduce in a live show.  During an interview he was asked what he likes to do during his spare time other than watching B movies and eating Chinese food.  His reply was “These days, walking my dog and playing piano, pretty much, and reading.  It’s like that music listening thing: the more you read the more you realize you don’t know a damn thing.  So you keep reading to overcome your own ignorance.  But it just makes you even more ignorant.  At this point I’m fabulously ignorant.”  That’s good enuf for me.  The truth will set you free.  Enjoy this one.  Check out www.PaulMark.com, and score this CD from Cdbaby.com and Amazon.com.  You can even download from Itunes.com.  You have no excuses.  Sic ‘em dog on blues.  Your friend – blue barry