”Terrific songs and outstanding performances with a rich southern vibe are key to the allure of this album, which by the way is produced by legendary John Porter…Ain’t Bad Yet is a soulful blend of blues and country, making this eleven track album a refreshingly cool listen from start to end.  Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip definitely hit this one out of the park.”

Ain’t Bad Yet, the sixth album from Finnish blues-rock group Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip is an instant hit as far as I’m concerned.  The lineup of the band remains the same, featuring Bjorklof(vocals/harmonica/guitar), Lefty Leppänen(electric guitar/slide guitar), Teemu Vuorela(drums),  Seppo Nuolikoski(bass) and Timo Roiko-Jokela(percussion/malletkat).  Terrific songs and outstanding performances with a rich southern vibe are key to the allure of this album, which by the way is produced by legendary John Porter.
A saucy rhythm, joined with hot harmonica licks, spill all over “Rat Race”, a spectacular jammin’ favorite, reminiscent of one of my favorite bands, Phish.  I love the change of tempo when the band breaks into “Sweet Dream’s a Sweet Dream”, a slightly spacy Hendrix-influenced treat.  Leppänen’s swampy slide guitar sounds so good on “Last Train to Memphis”, and “Today”.
Catchy blues-filed hooks and a hard driving beat keep the anti-war anthem “Rain in Jerusalem” quite centered.  This is such a powerful song.  Bjorklof delivers funky vocals and sweet harmonica over a really cool little bass-line provided by Seppo on “Hold Your Fire Baby”.  Gritty blues sounds best with some cool harp.  I dig the twangy “Blame It On the Bright Lights”, with its catchy back-beat.  John Porter steps in with guitar in hand and is joined by singers Lena Lindroos and Veera Railio. This song reminds me a lot of southern twangsters, Southern Culture on the Skids. I can’t help but feel good all over when I hear it.

Ain’t Bad Yet is a soulful blend of blues and country, making this eleven track album a refreshingly cool listen from start to end.  Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip definitely hit this one out of the park.

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”Finland’s best kept secret, and possibly hottest commodity, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip are a blues/rock band reminiscent of some of the earliest blues-rockers.”

Ain’t Bad Yet
Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip
HokaHey Records HHR 1501
I found myself going back to Macke Bjorklof & Blue Strip and giving them another listen.  It resulted in a rewrite of my review and an apology to the band.  These are all top-notch musicians…some of the best in the world.

Finland’s best kept secret, and possibly hottest commodity, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip are a blues/rock band reminiscent of some of the earliest blues-rockers.  From hard-driving blues, deeply rooted in the oldest of blues traditions, to laid-back ballads, this band has their bases covered.  The musicianship on this album is solid, through and through, with great guitar work and a rhythm section that is right on the money.  As an added bonus, we have the fact that all the tunes are original, written by the band.  Micke Bjorklof on vocals, harmonica and electric guitar (cut 4), Lefty Leppanen on electric and slide guitars & backing vocals, Teemu Vourela on drums, Seppo Nuolikoski on bass & vocals, Timo Roiko-Jokela on percussion, Tim Lewis on assorted organs, John Porter on electric guitar (cut 10) and background vocals thanks to Lena Lindroos & Veera Railio make up the unit that is tight as the proverbial gnat’s backside.  They have obviously done their homework when it comes to blues and have not only a deep love for the genre but musical roots that run deep.  If I had to pick a single word to describe this band, it would be ”polished.”  They have been plying their trade throughout Finland and Scandinavia for more than 20 years…and it shows.  While I was not familiar with the band until just recently, you can bet I’ll not miss their next release.  This band shows elements of what appears to be a Cuban influence on a number or two, which I found not only interesting, but refreshing.  This band is diverse, moving from one style to another, seamlessly, and never drifting far from the root in blues in the process. While some purists might argue, it is hard to ignore the quality of the musicianship, the songwriting and the overall performance.  To put it bluntly, this is an ass-kicking band, and well worth a good listen, and then some. — Bill Wilson
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”Finland’s best kept secret, and possibly hottest commodity, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip are a blues/rock band reminiscent of some of the earliest blues-rockers.”

I found myself going back to Macke Bjorklof & Blue Strip and giving them another listen.  It resulted in a rewrite of my review and an apology to the band.  These are all top-notch musicians…some of the best in the world.

Finland’s best kept secret, and possibly hottest commodity, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip are a blues/rock band reminiscent of some of the earliest blues-rockers.  From hard-driving blues, deeply rooted in the oldest of blues traditions, to laid-back ballads, this band has their bases covered.  The musicianship on this album is solid, through and through, with great guitar work and a rhythm section that is right on the money.  As an added bonus, we have the fact that all the tunes are original, written by the band.  Micke Bjorklof on vocals, harmonica and electric guitar (cut 4), Lefty Leppanen on electric and slide guitars & backing vocals, Teemu Vourela on drums, Seppo Nuolikoski on bass & vocals, Timo Roiko-Jokela on percussion, Tim Lewis on assorted organs, John Porter on electric guitar (cut 10) and background vocals thanks to Lena Lindroos & Veera Railio make up the unit that is tight as the proverbial gnat’s backside.  They have obviously done their homework when it comes to blues and have not only a deep love for the genre but musical roots that run deep.  If I had to pick a single word to describe this band, it would be ”polished.”  They have been plying their trade throughout Finland and Scandinavia for more than 20 years…and it shows.  While I was not familiar with the band until just recently, you can bet I’ll not miss their next release.  This band shows elements of what appears to be a Cuban influence on a number or two, which I found not only interesting, but refreshing.  The band is diverse, moving from one style to another, seamlessly, and never drifting far from the root in blues in the process. While some purists might argue, it is hard to ignore the quality of the musicianship, the songwriting and the overall performance.  To put it bluntly, this is an ass-kicking band, and well worth a good listen, and then some. — Bill Wilson
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”Terrific songs and outstanding performances with a rich southern vibe are key to the allure of this album, which by the way is produced by legendary John Porter…Ain’t Bad Yet is a soulful blend of blues and country, making this eleven track album a refreshingly cool listen from start to end.  Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip definitely hit this one out of the park.”

Ain’t Bad Yet, the sixth album from Finnish blues-rock group Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip is an instant hit as far as I’m concerned.  The lineup of the band remains the same, featuring Bjorklof(vocals/harmonica/guitar), Lefty Leppänen(electric guitar/slide guitar), Teemu Vuorela(drums),  Seppo Nuolikoski(bass) and Timo Roiko-Jokela(percussion/malletkat).  Terrific songs and outstanding performances with a rich southern vibe are key to the allure of this album, which by the way is produced by legendary John Porter.
A saucy rhythm, joined with hot harmonica licks, spill all over “Rat Race”, a spectacular jammin’ favorite, reminiscent of one of my favorite bands, Phish.  I love the change of tempo when the band breaks into “Sweet Dream’s a Sweet Dream”, a slightly spacy Hendrix-influenced treat.  Leppänen’s swampy slide guitar sounds so good on “Last Train to Memphis”, and “Today”.
Catchy blues-filed hooks and a hard driving beat keep the anti-war anthem “Rain in Jerusalem” quite centered.  This is such a powerful song.  Bjorklof delivers funky vocals and sweet harmonica over a really cool little bass-line provided by Seppo on “Hold Your Fire Baby”.  Gritty blues sounds best with some cool harp.  I dig the twangy “Blame It On the Bright Lights”, with its catchy back-beat.  John Porter steps in with guitar in hand and is joined by singers Lena Lindroos and Veera Railio. This song reminds me a lot of southern twangsters, Southern Culture on the Skids. I can’t help but feel good all over when I hear it.

Ain’t Bad Yet is a soulful blend of blues and country, making this eleven track album a refreshingly cool listen from start to end.  Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip definitely hit this one out of the park.

Read more

Tervetuloa nettikauppaan!

Welcome!

”Tämä on kokonaisuudessaan niin muhkea ja päälle kaatuva musiikkipaketti, ettei tästä selviä kertakuuntelulla. Levyn sielu ja sanoma että itse musiikki tarvitsevat auetakseen useamman kuuntelukerran. Nyt mennään niin monitahokkaassa sinimusan maailmassa… joka ukkohan juo pullon kaljaa kertaimaisulla, mutta tämä onkin vaarinkaljapullo…”
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BluesNews review 07 15

Check out this awesome review from USA
”Ain’t Bad Yet is a soulful blend of blues and country, making this eleven track album a refreshingly cool listen from start to end. Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip definitely hit this one out of the park.” -Phillycheeze/Phillip Smith

”A very nice album, great songs. Nothing wrong with that.”

”Hun zesde album “Ain’t Bad Yet” is opgenomen in Wales met de bekende producer John Porter. De titel zegt het al en is eigenlijk een understatement; zo slecht is het niet, eigenlijk is het best goed. De elf songs zijn zelfgeschreven. Het klinkt allemaal lekker en, als je al in een hokje wilt stoppen, zou je het een soort bluesrock light kunnen noemen. Bij tijd en wijle stevig, maar het ligt allemaal lekker in het gehoor en de ritmes zijn aanstekelijk. Het album begint stoer met het rockende “Last Train To “Memphis”, varieert met akoestisch werk, funky nummers om weer met een stevige blues te eindigen. Een erg leuk album, prima nummers. Niets mis mee.””
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