Experience an album that makes you feel like you’re in a blackened club watching a man and his band sweat it out under the lights' hot glare. You can practically feel their extraordinary passion for pure expressiion. The blues has always been a grueling profession. Riches are in the cards for only a minute few, many of them bad masqueraders to begin with. Nick Moss & the Flip Tops play traditional Chicago blues with vibrancy and bite. Count Your Blessings is Moss' third album as a leader and its title speaks volumes. He's a young, self-taught guitar player who truly walks the walk, counting the late Muddy Waters guitarist Jimmy Rogers as a friend and mentor. The true-to-form spirit born of their relationship swoops down and embodies songs like the downtrodden "So Tired," in which Moss does battle with Barelhouse Chuck on Wurlitzer and Lynwood Slim on harp. The generous platter—
18 songs and 76 minutes in length—includes guest spots by drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, another Muddy alumnus whom Moss refers to as his second father.

Smith keeps time on the galloping title track as well as "Porchlight," a swirling, organ-fired piece of rock 'n roll. Curtis Salgado, known primarily for his soul singing, blows a mean harp on that one and several others too. Guitarist Anson Funderburgh and singer Sam Myers of the Rockets also stop by to sweeten the pie. All of 'em, though, merely accent the ferocious beat of the Flip Tops and the keen notes Moss peals out of his guitar. Count your blessings indeed. Visit Nick and the Flip Tops and their label, Blue Bella Records, at www.nickmoss.com. Learn all about this truly entertaining young blues man and buy a disc, a t-shirt, or both. The word on this guy is out and it's spreading rapidly.

—Tom Clarke