Beware John Mayer, if Jennifer Anniston hears this record, you're history! Veteran blues guitarist Mike Locke offers his followers (and there are plenty of them in the Midwest and South) a blistering compilation of tracks that never saw the light of day on any of his official albums for some reason or another, but certainly merit release; hence The Lost Files. From his Bay Area period in the late 90s, "Street Walking Woman" a collaboration with guitar hero Tommy Castro, is the stuff of those other two guys who toiled with …The Dominoes. Miami sax legend Stan Waldman bites the reed akin to Gato on "Real Good Woman" and "Nasty Reputation." The recently recorded "Nitro" and "Pizza Rats and Tats" are Locke at his best: in a trio configuration wherein his fiery motifs have space to breathe. Keep Locke away from Jessica Simpson! Highly recommended for fans of the Black Crowes, Ben Harper, and vintage Johnny Winter, and The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
--Tom Semioli [July 22, 2008]
