Franck L. Goldwasser – Who Needs This Mess?
Crosscut Records – 2023
15 Tracks; 57 minutes
Franck L. Goldwasser may not be a well-known name, but he has been acknowledged by many as a master of the guitar ever since he moved to the U.S. from France over 40 years ago. He has regularly worked with such legends as Lowell Fulson, Percy Mayfield, Sonny Rhodes, Pee Wee Crayton, Sunnyland Slim, James Harman, Elvin Bishop, and many more. Some of the most respected blues musicians are eager to collaborate with him. For example, guests on his first album included Jim Pugh and Risk Estrin, his second album was produced by Joe Louis Walker, he and Alastair Greene recorded a joint album, and he has recorded with Kid Andersen.
Goldwasser’s latest album, Who Needs this Mess? contains fourteen songs written or co-written by Goldwasser, and one cover of a Bobby Robinson/Elmore James song. And, like his past albums, it includes an impressive array of guest artist friends. The tracks show a diversity of tempos and influences, with several of the songs containing a seemingly hill-country-inspired rhythm. And, throughout each, Goldwasser’s brilliant guitar technique can be heard.
Who Needs this Mess? opens with a shuffle and then leads into the brutally honest non-love song, “I Don’t Want Your Love, I Just Want Your Lovin’”. Guest artist, R.J. Mischo, joins Goldwasser with chromatic harp on the third track, an excellent instrumental number. And the lyrics of “Had a Dream Last Night” are amusing and quite clever, noting “Had a dream last night—Donald Trump got kicked out of the NRA. Kanye West said, ‘Don—don’t worry. You’ll always have a place to stay’. And they ran Ben Carson out of the KKK.”
The true stand-out track on this album is the title track, which includes contributions from Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica, Jim Pugh on Keyboards, Kir Fletcher joining Goldwasser for dual guitars, and Sugaray Rayford’s amazing vocals. The lyrics note, “Life is too complicated in these modern times. Anyone who says different has got to be blind, or they’re lyin’! That’s how they get you. That’s how they trap you in the net. You’ll be making payments until you’re laid to rest…I’m gonna buy me a big screen TV. Put it on my credit card. For all these things I own, I’ve got to work so goddamn hard! Who needs this mess?” An additional highlight of this album is the classic slow blues cover that is the final track.
There are very few weaknesses to the album. The track, “Monkey Junk” seems a bit odd and possibly out of place on the album and, while Goldwasser is a solid vocalist, he is not an exceptionally powerful singer. However, overall, this work demonstrates excellent musicianship, clever lyrics and wonderful collaborations and would be a welcome addition to your collection.
