# Universal Blues

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Blues
> Source revision: 1338738142
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{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Universal Blues
| type       = studio
| artist     = [The Redwalls](/source/The_Redwalls)
| cover      = The Redwalls Universal Blues.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = November 18, 2003
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| genre      = [Rock](/source/Rock_music)
| length     = 38:00
| label      = [Undertow](/source/Undertow_Music)
| producer   = The Redwalls, Dan Dietrich
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [De Nova](/source/De_Nova)
| next_year  = 2005
}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r668852|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->

'''''Universal Blues''''' is the debut album by Chicago-based rock band [The Redwalls](/source/The_Redwalls), released in the United States on November 18, 2003 by [Undertow Music](/source/Undertow_Music). In 2007, the band re-released ''Universal Blues'' on Princeton Lane Records with six bonus tracks from early band demos.

==Critical reception==
Reviewers frequently noted ''Universal Blues''{{'}} heavy debt to 1960s rock, particularly [the Beatles](/source/the_Beatles). In a contemporary review for ''PopMatters'', Adrien Begrand described the album as a throwback to mid-1960s British rock and wrote that listening to it was “instantly transported” to the early Beatles era, emphasizing the band’s focus on pop hooks amid the 2000s garage-rock revival.<ref>{{cite web |last=Begrand |first=Adrien |title=The Redwalls: Universal Blues |website=PopMatters |date=October 12, 2003 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/redwalls-univeral-2496047949.html |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> Begrand also highlighted specific Beatles-like details, including comparisons between Logan Baren’s vocal style and [John Lennon](/source/John_Lennon) and an observation that “Colorful Revolution” borrows a bassline associated with “[Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da](/source/Ob-La-Di%2C_Ob-La-Da)”.<ref>{{cite web |last=Begrand |first=Adrien |title=The Redwalls: Universal Blues |website=PopMatters |date=October 12, 2003 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/redwalls-univeral-2496047949.html |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref>

An ''AllMusic'' review by critic Tim Sendra (reprinted by Qobuz) similarly framed the record as an overt homage to classic 1960s rock, citing influences including Dylan, the Beatles, [CCR](/source/Creedence_Clearwater_Revival), and [the Rolling Stones](/source/the_Rolling_Stones).<ref>{{cite web |last=Sendra |first=Tim |title=Review: The Redwalls – Universal Blues |website=Qobuz |url=https://www.qobuz.com/au-en/album/universal-blues-the-redwalls/sk7xmfwwd3qnb |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref> Sendra was more critical of the band’s originality, characterizing the album as near “note-perfect” imitation, but argued that its enthusiasm and songcraft made it an enjoyable listen despite the derivativeness.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sendra |first=Tim |title=Review: The Redwalls – Universal Blues |website=Qobuz |url=https://www.qobuz.com/au-en/album/universal-blues-the-redwalls/sk7xmfwwd3qnb |access-date=February 15, 2026}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!#
!Title
!Composer(s)
!Time
|-
|1
|"Colorful Revolution"
|Andrew Langer
|3:43
|-
|2
|"You'll Never Know"
|The Redwalls
|5:26
|-
|3
|"It's Alright"
|The Redwalls
|2:57
|-
|4
|"Speed Racer"
|The Redwalls
|2:28
|-
|5
|"How the Story Goes"
|The Redwalls
|3:56
|-
|6
|"It's Love You're On"
|The Redwalls
|2:45
|-
|7
|"What a Shame"
|The Redwalls
|3:08
|-
|8
|"Home"
|The Redwalls
|2:45
|-
|9
|"Balinese"
|[ZZ Top](/source/ZZ_Top)
|4:35
|-
|10
|"I Just Want to Be the One"
|The Redwalls
|2:20
|-
|11
|"Universal Blues"
|The Redwalls
|3:33
|-
|}

==Re-release bonus tracks==
#"Let It Ride"
#"In My Song"
#"Better Days"
#"Please Listen"
#"Untrue"
#"Just a Day Away"

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:The Redwalls albums
Category:2003 debut albums

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Universal Blues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Blues) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Blues?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.