Guy Davis is the real thing. This young black bluesman plays his version of the downhome blues like he, too, has a hellhound on his trail.

Davis has released two earlier collections of blues on Red House; Call Down The Thunder, and Stomp Down Rider. But with this new CD, he has truly found his voice. His original songs show the stamp of blues greats such as Lead Belly, Blind Willie McTell, and even a trace of the dark side in the form of Blind Willie Johnson. It’s this mix that gives Davis’ songs their edge.

Davis is also proficient on a variety of instruments and styles of guitar playing. On “If You Love Somebody,” he rolls out some tasty slide guitar; other songs feature his fingerstyle fretwork on six and 12-string Gibson acoustics, a six-string Hagstrom, and a big-body 12-string Stella. In addition, he can moan through a harmonica like it’s a second voice on “Georgia Flood,” and doubles on bass and percussion on several cuts.

This is a solid collection of acoustic blues that gives you faith the blues will live on. Recommended.