Lonnie Brooks’ music comes from the R&B side of the blues. Brooks is a passionate singer with an intense rock-like guitar style. With the exception of “Roll of the Tumbling Dice” (a relaxed duet featuring the harmonica of Sugar Blue), the music on Roadhouse Rules is generally unrelenting in its ferocity, blues-oriented but also quite open to the influences of Stax-type soul and rock. The impressive musicianship and sincerity of Brooks’ music is probably easier to respect than to love; this release gives listeners a good sampling of his playing. – Scott Yanow