Emerging from this yearΓÇÖs South By Southwest conference as the criticΓÇÖs darling is an unlikely trio of musicians--two of which happen to be the sons of legendary Memphis producer/musician Jim Dickinson--which has immersed itself in the raw, gritty blues of the Mississippi hill country, popularized in the last few years by artists like the late (and still unequaled) Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside.
From the first bars of "Shake ΓÇÿEm On Down," a tough, syncopated blues cut with acoustic slide, treated vocals, a sample (from fifist Otha Turner) and way too much studio noodling, the enthusiasm on these 10 covers (including tunes by both Kimbrough and Burnside) comes through loud and clearly. Unfortunately, the tunes are executed with more zeal than taste. Often--when solos are too busy and run-on far too long--the result is simply annoying.
For instance, "Po Black Maddie" starts off encouragingly enough, but three minutes into the tune, it descends into Allman-styled guitar wanking. "GoinΓÇÖ Down South" smacks of riff-heavy Band Of Gypsys--sans the creativity of Hendrix--while "K.C. Jones" recalls the elder DickinsonΓÇÖs Mud Boy and the Neutrons. These guys obviously have talent and are drawing inspiration from a worthy source, we can only hope that tasteful restraint and originality will come with age.
All recordings courtesy of Tone Cool/Mercury. ΓÇ£Shake ΓÇÿEm On DownΓÇ¥ written by F. McDowell, A. Lomax; courtesy of Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI). ΓÇ£GoinΓÇÖ Down SouthΓÇ¥ written by R.L. Burnside; courtesy of Big Legal Mess Publishing (BMI). ΓÇ£All Night LongΓÇ¥ written by J. Kimbrough; courtesy of Big Legal Mess Publishing (BMI).
