There's not a single iota of pseudo-blues here. Lemhouse is the real deal, and Big Lonesome Radio should give blues lovers hope for the future of the genre.

Top 10 "Best Blues" Albums of the Year...

Richard Johnston and Alvin Youngblood Hart are among the favourites to scoop Handy awards in 2003, and newcomer Mark Lemhouse is already staking an early claim for a nomination next year.

Mark Lemhouse’s debut release reveals not only a gifted songwriter and soulful, bourbon-drenched vocalist but a stellar guitarist as well...

Striking debut... Lemhouse convincingly breaks free of the revivalist pack.

One of the year's best local blues releases... a consistently reverent but playful journey through the blues tradition.

Lemhouse messes with the devil here, luring him out with formidable chops as a fingerpicker and singer... Whereas Kelly Joe Phelps, another Portlander who broke from the blues pack, has found a sweetly melancholy ache and resonance with his blues, Lemhouse has found the hellfire.

Evokes the spirit of Howlin’ Wolf by taking those simplest rhythms and energetically hammering on them until the listener sways in a trance...

So authentic sounding and gritty... listeners will be astounded that we're dealing with a fairly young cat here. This stuff is blasting; tender and tornado-like in its ability to take you out.

Four of the numbers are his own and they are every bit as breathtaking as any other selection found here... Tasty, crisp guitar lines, imaginative, expressive lyrics and a bluesy voice that makes him the full package.

The kind of record that can reassure your faith that the blues is a still vital and thriving music... a stunning set of traditional blues played with utter authenticity, grit and passion.

Mark Lemhouse should be a household name...  The axeman is a chopper!

Keep an eye on Mark Lemhouse.  His debut shows tons of promise and will leave wanting more.

Very funky National guitar and electric playing.  Authentic deep tone and chops.  I'm very impressed.

Excellent, atmospheric amalgam of rockabilly, gipsy music and
Mississippi hill-country blues...

There are plenty of identifiable reference points scattered throughout the album, but they are fitted into the Lemhouse way of doing things, rather than the other way around... Highly recommended.

[Lemhouse] shines on every track, wrangling heartfelt sentiment from his battered National Resonator guitar...

Roots blues should always sound this good...

The real tribute is... his originals feel as good as a well crafted cover of a Charlie Patton or Charles Brown tune.

Irrepressible, energetic barrelhouse music... Lemhouse's playing is raucous, rhythmic, very rough, and always right.

Those looking for sharp contemporary blues records that are reverent of tradition but never stuffy aren't likely to do better than this.

His beating harsh rude blues will certainly convince all ‘deep-boogie’ sound lovers...

At last, a fresh blues record. We haven't seen one of those too often lately. And about time too, because I couldn't tell the difference anymore between the smell coming from these old blues records that have been laying around the house and the scent of my own feet. (Translated from the Dutch)

While he easily shifts genres, Lemhouse seems most comfortable playing hill-country blues...