I wonder what a young rocker has in mind regarding the WHITESNAKE 'brand'. I tend to think what I 'feel' for bands like e.g. BLUE CHEER, FOGHAT, FREE etc, in order to 'capture' were respect and admiration crosses with retro sounds and past times. Then, by pushing the 'start' button, it all comes clear: if you do not place your soul into the WHITESNAKE music, then it's really too strange you keep yourself bonded to Hard Rock/Metal music. Live...In The Shadow Of The Blues - among other facts - proves what the Blues did to men who did other things to other men who did other things to us...
Bypassing the 'is it live or is it not?' doubt running in everyone's mind - as if our adorable singers cry their guts out the level we hear it in a (supposing) live recording we love - Live...In The Shadow Of The Blues sees no specific reason for being issued in the first place (think so?). OK, WHITESNAKE is a killer live band and whoever's already witnessed David Coverdale singing cult anthems like Slide It In, Crying in The Rain and Fool for your Loving onstage surely need no further order; let aside the fact that the Live in The Still Of The Night DVD was came out just in 2006 (plus the newly-cut The Defintive Collection combo). Hence, the review will focus on the four new studio recordings - the first ones in the 21st century to be presented by Coverdale's gang - added to this wonderful double-CD live recording (taking place...where, really?):

1. Ready To Rock features a drivin' groovy tempo with wild guitars and David performing some great vocals. Sharp,  British and accurate, the song is a certainly of a 'thumbs up!' status. See the video here.
2. If You Want Me sees a crosslink between the classic 'bluesy' WHITESNAKE type played in a more 'one-wild-and-one-mild' pattern (and sound). Aldritch plays a helluva guitar while Aldridge's drumming is of respective energy. If you want me babeeee...
3. All I want Is You steps on (or off) to the 'ballad' thing. Not bad at all, but it certainly does not have the e.g. Looking For Love or Is This Love vibe. Still, it succeeds in reminding us of how much 'pain' still runs in the loverboy's veins.
4. Dog...I could certainly live without it, except from the imminent 'howl' intro from Coverdale right at the very start. OK, it's a good fast LED ZEPPELIN-ish hard rockin' tune (in some fresh production) with nothing more to impress an 'old-school' snakebiter...

The live set is - as expected - awesome (setlist, sound, instrumentation, chemistry, atmosphere etc). The bonus 'studio goodies' are very good. So: like 'em? Get it. Not? Don't.