Mike Zito – Greyhound Album Review
By James Layman

Let me start by saying this; to pigeonhole Greyhound as a blues album would be a travesty. In fact, it has only the baser undertones of a blues album. The way I see it Greyhound is more of a fully punched passport into the annals of American music. What’s even better, Greyhound is almost two albums in one.

Two seconds into the album I know where I’m at. I’m in either Oklahoma or Texas, but no matter what I’m hanging out with J.J. Cale. The first track of the album, “Roll On”, is a punched gut, low end, gritty, boot dragging romp that could only be indicative of a wind tossed dustbowl. Very much in the musical dialect of Oklahoma / Texas bluesmen that have come before, “Roll On” kick starts Greyhound with an intense, heavy rhythm and a growl that is trademark Zito.

The title track “Greyhound” illustrates Zito’s versatility as a song writer. For this song, he resides in a place more indicative of writers such as Steve Earle and Tom Petty. Although “Greyhound” is recognizably Zito, it does have a hint of Americana influence and it really sets what I view to be the second part of the album up nicely.

“Judgment Day”, “Show Me the Way”, and “The Hard Way” are more of a contemporary blues set. As always, when Zito decides to do a blues number, you know it’s going to be good and there’s no exception here. “Judgment Day” is a good, hard driving, four on the floor blues tune and “The Hard Way” contains some amazing guitar work especially for a song where over clichéd blues licks could have been used so easily. My one complaint about Greyhound; I don’t feel that “Show Me the Way” is a good enough song to be on this album. I’m not saying it’s a bad song; it’s just not the same caliber as the rest.

As I said earlier, I view Greyhound as two albums in one and the second half is kicked off with the song “Motel Blues”. This song is much more heartfelt and genuine than the first five songs combined.This is where Zito really starts to unpack the emotional baggage and let the listener in close. Also, at this point in the album, the production quality improves slightly and the tonality of the album becomes more polished.

The next song, “Stay”, has the most potential of becoming a number one hit. The first parallel that comes to mind is a cross between John Mayer and Lenny Kravitz vocally, but I feel that Zito’s playing and singing are a little more mature and believable to really set that comparison in stone. This song also features fantastic backing vocals, and some subtle yet tasteful slide work by Zito.

“Until the Day I Die” is a catchy country blues piece that shows Zito in a more traditional blues light. Here he employs great tone to achieve well rounded rhythms and showy solos. I would have loved to have heard a little organ on this song, but other than that it’s a great tune.


“Hello Midnight” is a slower blues number with some outstandingly appropriate slide playing and again, great vocals. “The Southern Side of Life” is really a standard rock ballad, and not one of my favorite songs on the album. It does however show another side of Zito’s writing, which is as versatile as any big name act touring today. The last song on the album, “Please, Please, Please” is a slow, powerful ballad that really showcases the dynamic range of Zito’s voice and wraps up Greyhound neatly in a warm blanket of soul.

The best thing about Mike Zito is when he sings and plays, I believe what’s coming out of his mouth and guitar. There are a lot of phonies out there but Mike Zito is definitely not among them and I have to say that Greyhound is positively an extension of that authenticity. As good as Greyhound is however, it still doesn’t coming close to seeing Zito in the flesh.




Be sure to check him out at Rude Dog Pub on Wednesday January 18th starting at 8 p.m.