Boz Scaggs

Boz Scaggs' steamy new blockbuster, Middle Man, more than recaptures the robust
lushness of Silk Degrees, the album that firmly established Scaggs as pop-rock's sharpest
fancy dancer. Its recipe is the same: two guitars, bass, drums and keyboards, generously
embellished with strings, horns and backup vocals. Though David Paich, the brilliant
keyboardist who was Scaggs' chief collaborator on Silk Degrees, appears on Mid... More >

A decade ago now, Boz joined a struggle--the struggle to prove a white man could sing not merely the blues, but their pop equivalent. Between his hippie pipes and his tendency to take things easy, it was hard, but determination shone through his most laid-back music--he stood out partly because few white guys were trying anything so contemporary, and partly because he had to go that extra inch lyrically to make his point. Since Silk Degrees, however, his only struggle has been to stay on top of the new white pop hegemony he helped create. Though he writes better material than Michael McDonald, the difference isn't degree, just taste. And though he's learned a lot about singing--maybe too much--McDonald has better pipes. (Grade: B-)