Blue Blazes (album)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
Edmonton Journal	[7]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide	[5]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[14]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	[8]
The Press of Atlantic City	[15]
Tri-City Herald	[11]

The Edmonton Journal wrote that Blue "does blow a powerful, wailing harp sound tune after hopping tune."^[7] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that "Blue's smoky, passionate vocals can be just as torchy or tough, a fine complement to his harp."^[8] The Washington Post noted that, "when the music is moody, it often a conjures a familiar shade of blues... And when the music is hot, it's ablaze alright, fueled by the sort of incendiary, upper-register runs that ignite the solo on 'Out Till Dawn'."^[9] The Boston Globe stated that "few blues artists in recent years have come up with a sound this personable and recognizable, or pushed the frontiers of their instrument this far."^[16]

The Press of Atlantic City deemed the album "both old and new, uptown and down-home" with "a solid rock flavoring."^[15] The Journal & Courier called it "typical Alligator Records fare—substantial, if not a little slick."^[17] The Austin American-Statesman opined that "guitarist Motaoki Makino is especially sharp."^[18] The Detroit Free Press wrote that Blue's "sexy blues vocals are driven by some of the sweetest high-end harmonica around."^[19]

AllMusic determined that "harmonica player and vocalist Sugar Blue isn't a singer who doubles on harp; he's an extraordinary instrumentalist who's also a quality vocalist."^[13]