Slam Allen is not one to feather things. His guitar-based blues and soul is straight as an arrow, and it does go directly to the heart. Not one but several tunes have the tempo, the dynamics, the catchy feel to be anthems in the way a good sermon — or a good Van Morrison tune — can be. Allen’s Things Sho’ Done Changed (RaveOn Productions) is funky, original and soulful, and I don’t even have the technology to take advantage of the enhanced CD video clips and stuff. A fluid guitar player who knows how to get in and out of trouble during a solo, Allen is also an earthy vocalist with lots of personality. Horns, an organ, a guest vocalist to duet with, Allen finds a place for all of them to help build a very, very strong house of blues and soul.