"There's nothing faded about Faded But Not Gone, the new (seventh) album from veteran Big Dave McLean."

"The performance is a measure of Big Dave’s importance to our community that such a grouping of our best players turns out for a new Big Dave album. Faded but not gone indeed!"

"Nothing has faded about McLean’s music. In fact, the album’s sonic warmth only adds greater colour as the bluesman brings to the fore his gritty vocals, taste for delta and country blues and early Chicago styles."

"Channeling John Lee Hooker, McLean really lays it on the line especially for those who miss the pure bred Delta sound."

"This record goes really well with a rocking chair, a glass of whiskey, and an afternoon of nothing else to do."

"Using a shopworn yet effective singing voice and confident bending of guitar strings, the sixty-something bluesman serves up substantial original songs (to mention one, "Shades Of Grace," which poignantly takes a gospel path) and stamps his own sly accent on well-chosen songs belonging to contemporaries Tom Waits and Ray LaMontagne as well as influences Tampa Red and Skip James."

"It's always great when somebody lives it, and Big Dave lives it. He's all about the blues, the road, it's pure commitment."

 "If you have not heard McLean before, I urge you to buy this and guarantee you will not be disappointed."

"I just received the newest release (March 3, 2015), Faded but Not Gone, by Big Dave McLean and it's gritty and solid."

“Faded but not Gone” is a snapshot of a man at an emotional crossroads and the album succeeds in perfectly portraying McLean’s journey on his road to healing."

"Big Dave McLean set out initially to make a great record, and, coupled with his own immense talents as well as those of his sidemen, “Faded But Not Gone” has accomplished this goal!"

"This album has a timeless quality and will most definitely make my list of the top albums of the year.  Dawson and company have done it again, and Big Dave McLean may have just released his best work to date."

"Standouts are a superb ‘Dead Cat On The Line’ given a knock down, drag out hokum treatment, driven along by Colin James’ rippling mandolin playing."

"Meet Winnipeg's own Howlin' Wolf."

"His ragged but right guitar work, harmonica, and gruff vocals are perfectly suited for old school, down-home blues."

Winnipeg, Manitoba's Big Dave McLean returns with a full platter of tunes courtesy of Vancouver's Black Hen Music label and talented veteran producer, Steve Dawson. Faded But Not Gone offers 12 songs, mostly original but with a few well-chosen covers thrown in for good measure that showcase why McLean is such a celebrated stalwart among our northern cousins.

"The songs, one good one after another, are a mix of McLean's impressive originals, as often blues-inflected as straight-ahead blues, and covers from the likes of Tampa Red (an inspired reworking of "Dead Cat on the Line"), Tom Waits ("Mr. Siegal"), Ray LaMontagne ("Devil's in the Jukebox") and more."

"Surrounded by first call players such as Kevin McKendree on keyboards, Colin Linden and Steve Dawson on guitars, Colin James on mandolin and the McCrary Sisters on vocals, guitarist and singer Big Dave McClean, has crafted a disc of straight shooting blues that are aimed more at getting through another day than lighting up the next party."

"It was a brilliant idea for Winnipeg, Canada’s acclaimed blues singer and guitar picker Big Dave McLean to go cuttin’ down in Nashville with the equally revered producer and master guitarist, Steve Dawson."

"The seductive opening notes of the classic "Tough Times" resplendent with a vintage tube vibrato will slide down your ear canal, through your ear drum and surround your brain before it blossoms into a snarly, ragged, gritty Delta-infused blues romp replete with a quintessential gravelly voice urging your body to sway and your toes to tap like only true-blue blues can."