Soul deep Brit James Hunter - who possesses a "tight, slithery soul groove" and a "sweet growl" (NY Times) - will make his Hear Music debut with the release of [title]The Hard Way[/title]. The new album finds Hunter delving further into the realm of deep soul on a set of all-original material.

'The Hard Way' was produced by Liam Watson (The White Stripes) at famed analogue haven Toe Rag Studios in London.

The instrumental palette is rich and the arrangements sharpened for 'The Hard Way.' Allen Toussaint joins Hunter on the sultry "Til The End," the rhumba "Believe Me Baby," and the title track. The gorgeous Echo Strings buoy "The Hard Way" and the romantic "Carina," with accompanying pedal steel. The jumping "Don't Do Me No Favors" is designed for the dance floor.

The album resolves with the romantic ballad "Strange But True," the first Hunter recording stripped down to just vocals and guitar. The album also showcases further evidence of Hunter's guitar prowess, his manic solos recalling the fretwork of Ike Turner.

Hunter has extensively road tested the new album, crisscrossing North America and Europe since his 2006, GRAMMY nominated album 'People Gonna Talk' put him on the map. That album took him from being "one of the best voices, and best kept secrets, in British R'n'B and Soul," as Van Morrison put it, to a major breakout success of 2006. He opened for Etta James, Boz Scaggs, Los Lonely Boys, and Aretha Franklin; reached #1 on Billboard's Blues chart; and made several national television appearances. 'People Gonna Talk; earned him critical acclaim as well, with Rolling Stone calling it "a treat not to miss" and USA Today raving about his "sublime soul."

1. The Hard Way 2:29
2. Tell Her 3:25
3. Don't Do Me No Favours 4:18
4. Carina 4:10
5. She's Got A Way 2:41
6. Til The End 4:19
7. Hand It Over 3:27
8. Jacqueline 2:28
9. Class Act 3:00
10. Ain't Goin' Nowhere 2:19
11. Believe Me Baby 2:44
12. Strange But True 3:16

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016OMFPM/?tag=imwan-20

This is a really nice album, though I think his previous offering, People Gonna Talk, is better. When I first heard him on the radio a couple of years ago, I thought it was an oldie by a black soul singer from the 1960s. This guy is great live...high energy, fun, and with a sound that feels like authentic soul from the era of Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson. I've seen him 4 times in the last year and a half and highly recommend him if he comes to a venue near you.