Soul deep Brit James Hunter - who possesses a "tight, slithery soul groove" and a "sweet growl" (NY Times) - will make his Hear Music debut with the June 10 release of The Hard Way. The new album finds Hunter delving further into the realm of deep soul on a set of all-original material.

The Hard Way was produced by Liam Watson (The White Stripes) at famed analogue haven Toe Rag Studios in London. The album will be carried in Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as traditional music retailers and digital download stores starting on June 10, 2008.

The instrumental palette is rich and the arrangements sharpened for The Hard Way. Allen Toussaint joins Hunter on the sultry "Til The End," the rhumba "Believe Me Baby," and the title track. The gorgeous Echo Strings buoy "The Hard Way" and the romantic "Carina," with accompanying pedal steel. The jumping "Don't Do Me No Favors" is designed for the dance floor.

The album resolves with the romantic ballad "Strange But True," the first Hunter recording stripped down to just vocals and guitar. The album also showcases further evidence of Hunter's guitar prowess, his manic solos recalling the fretwork of Ike Turner.

So, if you would like to win one of these new CDs then just answer this easy question: Which 2006 Grammy-nominated album first put him on the map?!

Send us your answers and if you're correct you'll be in the running to win one of these new CDs! Just send us an e:mail here before August 1st with your answer and the subject title CONTEST: JAMES HUNTER CDs to: exclusivemagazine@flash.net

CD Purchase Link

“Don’t Do Me No Favors” Audio Stream

www.jameshuntermusic.com