Saturday, March 3, 2012

Soul Time!

by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones's new album with the estimable Dap-Kings, Soul Time!, is her strongest to date.  On her previous albums, I've enjoyed her rich voice and the ability of the band, but things seem to click on this album in ways they haven't before.

Jones is making good use of her age and experience in life, allowing her perspective to come through clearly on tracks like 'Genuine' (which has two parts), or on 'Longer or Stronger'.  It's rare to find musical artists who a) admit to their age, and b) see the strengths inherent in that age.

Jones shows a little more social conscience on tracks like 'What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?' and 'Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects', but really, this album is all about the soul and funk.  The band comes hard on every track, and together, we're given an album steeped in the past but very much a product of the present day.  Recommended.

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