Rating: NNN
Booker T. Jones brings his signature Hammond B3 sound into another collaborative effort, this time with members of the Roots, guitarist Dennis Coffey and guest vocalists including Sharon Jones, Matt Berninger and Lou Reed.
The mostly instrumental album kicks off with Booker T.’s organ parts boomeranging off ?uestlove’s exclamation-mark drum parts on Walking Papers. Throughout, the material is simultaneously current and nostalgic, recalling the optimism and discovery of the 60s and 70s, especially on Progress, sung by Jim James of My Morning Jacket.
The songs with guest vocalists stand out – no surprise, considering the calibre of talent. Booker T.’s daughter Liv contributes lyrics to Representing Memphis (with Jones and Berninger) and The Bronx (sung by Reed), while Booker T. himself takes a rare turn on the mic on the autobiographical Down In Memphis.
Top track: Representing Memphis
