Glenn Kaiser
You Made the Difference in Me
Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovern
This man has always had the perfect voice for blues - full of grit, passion, and intense devotion to conveying the emotional reality of the subject matter. That's one thing that's made Resurrection Band so appealing over the years. Whether you include that band in considering Kaiser's incredibly extensive discography or not, through it all, his passion is matched perhaps only by those with whom he has worked (Darrell Mansfield, etc.). You Made the Difference in Me serves to continue this legacy of intensity, with songs that relate a passion for a closeness with the Savior. Different types of blues come from all over - Memphis, Detroit, St. Louis, and of course, Chicago. Here, Kaiser melds the best of his personal influences, those being Detroit, Memphis, and Chicago, and receives instrumental backing by a myriad of R&B performers, as well as Resurrection Band guitarist Stu Heiss. Some songs ("Diggin' My Own Grave") even nod back to commercial early 80's blues/rock, while others lean on the old traditions of Motown. Even though I, personally, would rather listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan any day, this is a truly textured record that should appeal to fans of traditional blues.