The late prince of music journalism, Robert Palmer, writes in the liner notes of Mule that Paul "Wine" Jones plays guitar "with the momentum and unpredictability of a runaway steamroller." It"s an apt description. For Jones"s raw electric riffs are the sonic by-product of hard life in the Mississippi Delta, and the songs contained in this CD are a mud-splattered testament to playing the blues for no purpose other than self-expression and emotional release. Indeed, Jones often slurs indistinguishably on cuts like "Kitty Kat" and "Rob & Steal." But who cares? After all, this is the real thing. Is that Jones playing the wah-wah or is it Big Jack Johnson? Are they a beat behind the primal thump of Sam Carr"s drums? It makes no difference. Because these 10 tracks are so uncompromising and dangerous they make Buddy Guy sound like Donny Osmond. With releases like Mule, Fat Possum Records is showing the world that the deep, dark Delta blues still exists. And you can be part of it. Just play it loud. --Ken Hohman