Phil Wight ( Blueprint Magazine Britian )............"This C D consists of selected cuts from his "Blues For Your Pocket" cassette plus extra tracks recorded specially for this C D release. His vocals are accompanied by his own harp and amplified acoustic slide guitar and support is provided by Dave Ross on bass and Ed O' Callaghan on drums............Byrne has a strong , bluesy, at times raucous voice and is a talented harp blower.In the guitar department he really shines, his slide work is exceptional with just the right dirty edge to his sound.His choice of cover songs is superb and all of the original material is excellent,especially "Slow Train" and "Goin' Down To Clarksdale".

Peter Murphy (Hot Press Magazine.) Given his devotion to Leadbelly,Dermot Byrne runs the risk of being lumped in with the purists. However he has one thing on his side:guts.The album title is instructive-this dog-rough though never slovenly) collection was recorded in Dublin's Sun Studios over the last three years and there are no frills, no special guests, just Byrne and his henchmen Dave Ross on bass and Ed O'Callaghan on drums)playing a bunch of delta-derived tunes, some originals some standards. Byrne's voice exudes authority boasting a barrelhouse bawl worthy of Howlin' Wolf. Its this secret weapon that allows him to attack stuff like Son House's "Preachin Blues" without getting egg on his face.The guitar playing is pretty hot too, spiky but economic. Highlights? An acapella " Line 'Em" (made famous by, I believe, Leadbelly, remoulded by Aerosmith on Permanent Vacation), a snatch of Robert Johnson's "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day", and Byrne's own adaptation of Slim Harpo's "Catfish To Kingbee"..............this orthodox but honest album is still an impressive calling card.Check it out.