Free Your Mind (Underworld Records) is the 10th studio release from Too Slim and the Taildraggers. Front man Tim Langford (AKA “Too Slim”) has been doing this for a couple of decades now, building a devoted fan base, branching out from their home area in Seattle and having shared the stage over the years with the likes of Bo Diddley, Brian Setzer, Otis Rush, Robert Cray, Johnny Lang, Los Lobos, Lonnie Mack, Travis Tritt, Ted Nugent, Delbert McClinton, and a score of other big names. The band has won multiple awards in various Northwest readers’ polls, and has been recognized as best regional act by the Cascade Blues Association 11 times.

Langford wrote all of the tunes on Free Your Mind. “When You Love Somebody” is a love song with Skynyrd overtones, and “Last Train” was written after Langford read the newspaper one morning, with lines taken from actual headlines that day. “Devil In A Doublewide” would have been a southern rock classic back in the day. The title cut has great slide guitar and lyrics and some solid advice. “Testament” is a dark song with Langford begging for strength and endurance, and “Been Thru Hell” is about having the resolve to make it through the tough times.

The moody “Peace With The Maker” covers a deal with the devil and its repercussions. If more of us took the advice offered in “Bottle It Up” (keeping our traps shut), we’d be the better for it (more great slide work from Langford). “Throw Me A Rope” is a modern take on the “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” theme, and “This Phone” is a humorous song about being “lovesick and lonesome” and sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring (Yeah, we’ve all done it). The closing track, “The Light,” is a gospel tune, featuring a memorable vocal turn from Lauren Evans.

Langford is one of the better guitarists you’ll hear and dazzles with his highly original fretwork. He gets excellent support from the Taildraggers (Dave Nordstrom – bass, Rudy Simone – drums). Todd Smallwood produced the disc along with Langford, and plays Hammond B3 and 12-string guitar.

Simply put, if you have any sort of interest in blues, rock, roots, or Americana, you have to pick up Free Your Mind. You can thank me later.