Tear Chicago Down rating: asin: B000WCBR4Y binding: Audio CD list price: $16.99 USD amazon price: $16.99 USD

With their first CD still climbing the charts, Kilborn Alley’s newest CD is already generating a lot of buzz in the music industry. Kilborn Alley’s first album, In the Alley garnered the Champaign-based band a nomination for “Best Debut Album” in 2006 from the Blues Foundation, and currently sits at #7 on the blues charts. Industry experts are already picking that their latest release, Tear Chicago Down produced by Blue Bella Records, will hit Number 1, and could get listed on the mainstream charts.

Two of the tracks, “Tear Chicago Down” and “Come Home Soon” are already hitting crossover status as selections on alternative radio from pre-release copies.

The funky title track features the vocals of Abraham Johnson, and during a recent gig and one of the first live performances of the song, the entire crowd of over 200, aging from 21 to 75, was on the dance floor.

More melancholy and with a blend of early Van Morrison but a southern rock feel is “Come Home Soon.” “That song was inspired when I picked up the paper, and I thought ‘Man, how many are gonna die?’ When we went to Iraq, there’d be one soldier a day dying, now it’s ten. I just want our guys to come home safe,” said vocalist and principle song writer Andrew Duncanson.

Other members of the ensemble are Josh Stimmel on lead guitar providing licks reminiscent of Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters, Chris Breen on bass, award-winning Joe Asselin on harp and backup vocals, and coast-to-coast veteran musician Ed O’Hara providing percussion and drums.

One of the things that makes Kilborn Alley stand out is that they truly are an ensemble band, with no one musician overshadowing the rest. Duncanson’s vocals are spot on tight, with the rest of the band blending together in a harmonious blend of sound. “In the tradition of the Chicago blues band created by Muddy Waters, the emphasis in each song is on the ensemble” says veteran musician James Walker in the new release’s liner notes.

“We work together to create the sound,” said Duncanson.

Hot off their tour of Alaska and featured spotlights at the West Virginia Blues Festival, the Illinois Blues Fest, and the Peoria Blues Festival, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band will be throwing album release parties all over the Midwest for the next month. Check out their performance schedule on MySpace

Catch the band now, before they head to the more lucrative European scene.