Paul Mark Blood And Treasure CD

Roots rock, soul, blues -- it's all on display throughout the 2008 release by Paul Mark & the Van Dorens, Blood and Treasure. An unmistakably very live sounding record from beginning to end (which is quite a treat in the current overly studio enhanced pop music climate), Blood and Treasure delivers quite a few authentic, good old-fashioned retro sounds and approaches. Mark's hearty vocals (which bring to mind Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Healey at times) are pushed way up front, while organs, rockabilly-esque guitar, and female soul vocals join in on the fun, especially on such ditties as the album opening "Everything Is Nothing," "Perp Walk," and "Feed the Machine." But not everything here is uptempo, as heard on the mid-paced and soulful "Raise the Roof." Paul Mark is certainly not attempting to break new sonic ground but he certainly knows his comfort niche, and it's on proud display throughout Blood and Treasure. ~ Greg Prato

The beat goes on...BLOOD & TREASURE is the highly-anticipated follow-up to Mark's celebrated 2006 release Trick Fiction. Barroom tested and road-weary tuff, the band weaves stellar songwriting and a smashing live band sound with blithe disregard for the tepid conformity of today's corporate music playlists. This is emotional, thinking-person's music that overlays a contemporary singer/songwriter sensibility on to the Americana legacy of blues, soul and raucous rock'n roll.

BLOOD & TREASURE builds on Paul Mark's word-of-mouth legacy with that trademark live, no-holds-barred roots rock sound. Cut in Memphis, Tennessee at legendary Ardent Studios, the tracks were co-produced by Paul Mark and Jeff Powell (Big Star, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Afghan Whigs, B.B. King, The Bottle Rockets). ...