Use Me

If there's one thing to be wary of in the latter-day output of artists whose recording careers have passed the three-decade mark, it's the dreaded duets album, where a horde of stars are grafted onto the tracks to increase the supposed salability of the end product. With 40 years of records in the rearview, it's no great shock that folk/blues cult hero David Bromberg's Use Me finds him finally going that route. What's startling is that this is one of those rare cases where it actually works. (Aesthetically, anyway - saleswise, who knows?) It probably doesn't hurt that most of the songs were written specifically for the project by Bromberg's duettists, who include John Hiatt, Dr. John, Vince Gill and Levon Helm. Most importantly, none of Bromberg's partners crowd him - on the contrary they remain respectfully reserved. Even Linda Ronstadt restricts herself to tasteful backing vocals on "It's Just a Matter of Time," one of the few covers here. Stylistically, things stay pretty much in Bromberg's comfort zone, where blues, folk, and country intersect, but it's a particular kick to hear him delivering a laconic but lascivious version of Bill Withers' saucy sex-funk classic "Use Me."