Some records aren't friendly to the poor reviewer: what can you tell about a CD that's just as terrible as to be expected? Nothing, of course, unless you treat it with loads of irony and pump it full with lead(en words) That's quite easy and therefore immensely popular in the Flemish music press. But it's even worse when the record is as excellent as was predicted. Are there blues fans on this planet not in the know that blues(rock) and boogie woogie piano player Gene Taylor was once member of Canned Heat? That for many a year he was part of the The Blasters with Dave Alvin and The Fabulous Thunderbirds with Kim Wilson, that he gained world fame with these bands and that he furthermore cooperated with the big guns, the likes of T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, James Harman (a dear friend of his), Amos Garrett and Doug Sahm? Amongst many others? That handsome Gene of all places in the world now lives in Limburg, where he communicates his métier to talented young wolves like Fried Bourbon? So when a record comes flying in produced by the Gene Taylor Blues Band, recorded in its natural environment (live on stage) then you know it will be just as it should be. The band features Dave Alvin, with Fender and Stetson, Bill Bateman on drums and John Bazz on the double bazz, a golden combination. When you know that the CD is crammed with succulent versions of classic tunes in multiple styles, boogie woogie (Big Joe Duskin), New Orleans (Dr. Professor Longhair), bluegrass (Bill Monroe), but also blues standards by Earl Hooker and Jimmy Rogers, plus Gene's own '605 Boogie', then the last bit of doubt surrounding 'Live!!! 605 Boogie!!!' melts away. Deliver the good time blues, this record hasn't more ambition than that. That was clearly the intention anyway and who can blame 'm? For any new approaches one has to look elsewhere: here's the good old stuff, thank God! Twelve songs long Gene Taylor sings and plays like a young stallion, while the band plays a galore. The sensitive ballads Gene excells in, are left out as they don't fit in the concept. Just give us the relaxed, yet funky second line of 'Mardi Gras In New Orleans', a classic Roy 'Professor Longhair' Byrd song, but as we already said, there's something for everyone. And this way we get the review to a plausible end!