Celebrating the release of their debut album “Sack Lunch” on November 12, Brooklyn’s Slim Wray is the latest entry in the burgeoning NYC blues rock genre. The duo of Ryan Houser (guitar/vocals) and Chris Moran (drums/backing vocals) play a stripped down hybrid of aggressive blues that combines punk, pop and garage thrash into a larger than sum-of-its-parts sound. “I Gotta Girl (With A List Of Needs)” hearkens back to early-era White Stripes, alternating hyper-passionate verses with muscular instrumental breaks. “Reaction” tips in a more pop direction by way of a traditional chord progression and harmony background vocals. “Bear” (streaming below, video here) is built around a “whooo hooo” vocal hook, while stretching out over chunky chords and thrashed cymbals. “House Of D” comes by way of acoustic guitar with vocals delivered in a conversational style that shares similarities with fellow new-blues Brooklynites The Dough Rollers. 12 solid tracks in all, the album includes a cover as well, with a delightfully faithful rendition of the Van Morrison (and re-interpreted by Patti Smith) classic “G L O R I A.” See them live at The Bowery Electric on November 20. – Dave Cromwell
