Dr John - Locked Down (06/05/2012)
Dr. John (Mac Rebbenack)’s latest album Locked Down is an exploration of sound that at times succeeds to great success and at other times strangles itself. It is a significant departure from his recent efforts and is an entirely new approach for the iconic Dr. John. The album is produced by The Black Key’s Dan Auerbach and is the first album for Dr. John on Nonesuch Records.
Locked Down is the title track and presents a frantic release of energy in the track. The song opens the CD but is certainly not the best on the record. It sounds like just too much is going on in the track; there are too many components in the sound. The drums are strong, perhaps too strong; they drown out a lot of the rest of the track. Also, some of the backing vocals remind me of the Oompa Loompa’s from the latest Willy Wonka soundtrack. There is a great guitar solo in the middle of the song. It is not that bad but it is not really at single level.
Throughout the album Dr. John’s mix with genres is readily evident. Revolution is reminiscent of old big band tracks, and has a really Blues Brothers-esque sound that somehow manages to incorporate a middle-eastern sitar-esque sound. Bog Shot has a old jazz band sound to the track and Rebennack’s voice has a gravelly tone that reflects his experience.
Getaway is a blues based track that is engaging and soulful. The opening just sticks out on the record and made the track great from beginning to end. The middle of the track cuts out only to come back in with fast-paced frantic guitar rounding out the track.
Kingdom of Izzness is unique on the album because it seems to try and grasp a more modern feel that kind of fails to completely grasp hold. Rebennack’s voice does not fit the to the instrumental track and it sounds really dissonant. The back-up singers blend the track together in the end but really they are the only thing holding the two sides of the track together.
Eleggua is the only more modern sounding track on the album that actually works. It is kind of a (jamacian/bigband?) sound and uses drum rolls and short phrases to create a blended sound that sounds great. The flute on this track is unique and fun to hear. Really it’s just a great track to listen to.
His individual mix of blues, pop, jazz, rock and roll and other genres is readily apparent in this record. For a musician with five Grammy awards and who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this record is a chance that has overall paid off. The album’s title track is not great and one or two tracks are not quite all together but the rest of the album is of a quality only seen in legends. The tracks are memorable and will undoubtedly become favourites of any Dr. John fan or of any blues/rock and roll fan.
Casey Cunningham
Locked Down is the title track and presents a frantic release of energy in the track. The song opens the CD but is certainly not the best on the record. It sounds like just too much is going on in the track; there are too many components in the sound. The drums are strong, perhaps too strong; they drown out a lot of the rest of the track. Also, some of the backing vocals remind me of the Oompa Loompa’s from the latest Willy Wonka soundtrack. There is a great guitar solo in the middle of the song. It is not that bad but it is not really at single level.
Throughout the album Dr. John’s mix with genres is readily evident. Revolution is reminiscent of old big band tracks, and has a really Blues Brothers-esque sound that somehow manages to incorporate a middle-eastern sitar-esque sound. Bog Shot has a old jazz band sound to the track and Rebennack’s voice has a gravelly tone that reflects his experience.
Getaway is a blues based track that is engaging and soulful. The opening just sticks out on the record and made the track great from beginning to end. The middle of the track cuts out only to come back in with fast-paced frantic guitar rounding out the track.
Kingdom of Izzness is unique on the album because it seems to try and grasp a more modern feel that kind of fails to completely grasp hold. Rebennack’s voice does not fit the to the instrumental track and it sounds really dissonant. The back-up singers blend the track together in the end but really they are the only thing holding the two sides of the track together.
Eleggua is the only more modern sounding track on the album that actually works. It is kind of a (jamacian/bigband?) sound and uses drum rolls and short phrases to create a blended sound that sounds great. The flute on this track is unique and fun to hear. Really it’s just a great track to listen to.
His individual mix of blues, pop, jazz, rock and roll and other genres is readily apparent in this record. For a musician with five Grammy awards and who has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this record is a chance that has overall paid off. The album’s title track is not great and one or two tracks are not quite all together but the rest of the album is of a quality only seen in legends. The tracks are memorable and will undoubtedly become favourites of any Dr. John fan or of any blues/rock and roll fan.
Casey Cunningham