Balling The Jack : Balling The Jack

  Alan Anton - Bass
  Andy Metcalfe - Bass
  Asie Payton - Performer
  Blixa Bargeld - Guitar
  Bob Log III - Guitar, Drums, Vocals
  Brian 'Brain' Mantia - Drums
  Brian Wilson - Drums
  Captain Beefheart - Bass, Harmonica, Marimba, Vocals
  Cedric Burnside - Drums
  Chris Chew - Bass, Vocals
  Cody Dickinson - Drums, Sampling
  Conway Savage - Piano
  Cowboy Junkies - Performer
  Dave Hinkle - Harmonica
  East Memphis Slim - Piano
  Gary Lucas - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Steel), Electronics
  Hosea Leavy - Vocals
  James Murray - Trap Kit
  Jared Michael Nickerson - Bass
  Jaro Czerwinec - Accordion
  Jerry Handley - Bass
  Jim Crosthwait - Washboard
  John French - Drums
  John Timmins - Guitar, Vocals (Background)
  Johnny Dowd - Guitar, Vocals
  Kenny Brown - Slide Guitar
  Kim Sherwood-Caso - Vocals
  Kimberley Rew - Guitar
  Larry LaLonde - Guitar
  Les Claypool - Bass
  Luther Dickinson - Guitar (Acoustic), Mandolin, Guitar (Electric), Vocals, Lap Steel Guitar, Bottleneck Guitar
  Margo Timmins - Vocals
  Martyn Casey - Bass
  Mary Margaret O'Hara - Vocals
  Michael Timmins - Guitar
  Mick Harvey - Guitar
  Mike Edmondson - Banjo, Piano, Keyboards, Xylorimba
  Moby - Multi Instruments
  Morris Windsor - Drums
  Nick Cave - Organ, Vocals, Noise
  North Mississippi Allstars - Performer
  Olu Dara - Guitar, Vocals, Handclapping
  Othar Turner - Fife
  Paul Now - Bass
  Penny Lang - Performer
  Peter Timmins - Drums
  Pig in a Can - Performer
  R.L. Burnside - Guitar (Steel), Vocals
  Reid Paley - Guitar, Vocals
  Robert Lee Oliver - Bass
  Sean Hoffman - Theremin
  Steve Shearer - Harmonica
  Thomas Wydler - Maracas
  Tom Waits - Guitar, Vocals
  Tony 'Thunder' Smith - Drums

The blues have long played a major role in rock music. Balling the Jack: Birth of NU-Blues is an attempt to demonstrate that influence by gathering tracks that evolved from the blues, but with added twists to the classic blues sound. This could not be considered a blues album, although the pervasiveness of the influence makes for a pretty consistent listen. There are a couple of missteps that interrupt the flow of the album: Pig in a Can's 'Slow Down Train' is a bit heavy on the programming, but the use of slide guitar helps redeem the track. It's Chris Thomas King's super bass hip-hop track that really sticks out like a sore thumb. Other than that, the album works pretty well, presenting such kindred spirits as Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits, and Johnny Dowd alongside souped up old-timers like Asie Payton and R.L. Burnside, with Moby and Diamanda Galas representing other opposite ends of the spectrum. This is a wide ranging and eclectic compilation that generally succeeds more than it fails. ~ Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide

21 track compilation subtitled 'The Birth Of The Nu-Blues', featuring Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Captain Beefheart, Moby, Billy Childish, R.L. Burnside, Cowboy Junkies, Diamanda Galas, North Mississippi Allstars & many more. 2002.