New Review: Albert Castglia – Grits & Glory
Anyone who has followed Albert Castiglia over the past few years knows that standing still is hardly part of his vocabulary.
Albert Castiglia – Grits & Glory
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: Gulf Coast Records
Release date: July 31, 2026
Text: Henk Hekkelman
Anyone who has followed Albert Castiglia over the past few years knows that standing still is hardly part of his vocabulary. The American guitarist and singer has built an impressive catalogue of albums, while also finding a kindred musical spirit in Mike Zito through their successful Blood Brothers project. On Grits & Glory, Albert Castiglia once again shows why he has become such a respected name in contemporary blues rock.
For the recording sessions, he chose a location steeped in history: Abbey Road Studios in London. Yet Grits & Glory is anything but a nostalgic record. Castiglia sounds fierce, driven and, at times, remarkably adventurous. With bassist Cliff Moore and drummer Ray Hangen alongside him, he also has a rhythm section that gives his guitar plenty of room to breathe.
Of course, Castiglia’s guitar playing is outstanding. By now, we have come to expect nothing less. What impresses me most about Grits & Glory, however, is that his guitar never becomes the sole focus. He can unleash a blistering solo when needed, but he also knows when to step back and let the song speak for itself.
That is immediately apparent on ‘In My America’. Hard-driving blues rock provides the backdrop for Castiglia’s reflections on the divisions in his homeland. Musically, the song feels tense and powerful, with his guitar adding another layer of emotion.
‘I’m Afraid To Fall Asleep’ moves into very different territory. Its confrontation with mortality gives the song a darker, almost unsettling atmosphere. The combination of piano and slide guitar works particularly well and demonstrates early on that this album offers more than straightforward blues rock.
The rhythm section also deserves special mention. Moore and Hangen play with power and precision without ever sounding heavy-handed. That is particularly evident on ‘Uncertainty’, which moves naturally between atmospheric passages and heavier terrain. ‘Michigan Avenue’, meanwhile, finds the band settling into an irresistible drive, helped considerably by Lewis Stephens’ Hammond work.
Throughout the album, Castiglia regularly ventures beyond the boundaries of his familiar blues-rock sound. The instrumental ‘Sack The Juggler’ is a fine example. No lyrics are needed here; guitar, bass and drums tell the story themselves. Technically impressive, certainly, but more importantly, the track has room to breathe.
Lyrically, Castiglia is equally unwilling to take the easy route. ‘Slumlord Billionaire’ carries a clear social message and, for me, is one of those songs that lingers after the music has stopped. Its heavy musical character suits the subject perfectly, while Castiglia uses his guitar almost as an extension of his voice.
Fortunately, Grits & Glory is not relentlessly heavy. ‘The Milk Is Still Good’ introduces a welcome dose of funk, while ‘When The Coin Came Calling’ shows just how well this band can groove. Bruce Bears’ Wurlitzer gives the latter an additional character of its own.
The biggest surprise for me is ‘Afro Blue’. Mongo Santamaria’s jazz classic is used more as a starting point than a blueprint. Castiglia and his musicians take the composition into blues-rock, jazz and psychedelic territory, allowing themselves almost seven minutes to explore its possibilities.
This is where the quality of the band really becomes apparent. Nobody seems interested in showing off, yet there is always something happening. Moore’s bass, Stephens’ organ and Hangen’s assured drumming provide Castiglia with all the space he needs to improvise. For me, Afro Blue is one of the moments when Grits & Glory truly rises above the ordinary.
The album closes with ‘Yer Blues’. Recording a Beatles song at Abbey Road may seem like an obvious choice, but thankfully Castiglia does not treat it like a museum piece. Instead, he makes the song his own, giving it a raw blues-rock edge that suits both his voice and guitar perfectly.
What stays with me most about Grits & Glory is its versatility. Castiglia no longer needs to prove that he is an exceptional guitarist. More importantly, he increasingly puts that ability at the service of the songs.
He receives excellent support from Cliff Moore and Ray Hangen, while the various keyboard contributions add exactly the right amount of colour when needed.
There is plenty of hard-hitting blues rock here, but also funk, jazz, psychedelic excursions and socially conscious songwriting. None of these elements feel like disconnected experiments. Instead, they come together naturally on an album that reflects Castiglia’s confidence in both his band and his own abilities.
Tracks:
01. In My America
02. I’m Afraid to Fall Asleep
03. Uncertainty
04. Michigan Avenue
05. Sack The Juggler
06. Slum Lord Billionaire
07. The Milk Is Still Good
08. Don’t Burn Down The Bridge
09. When The Coin Came Callin’
10. Afro Blue
11. Yer Blues
Website:https://www.albertcastiglia.net/
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