Skip to main content

69. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Naturally (2005)

Is it possible to take retro too far?

Place Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings latest long player on the stack and hear for yourself. From the opening blast of How Do I Let A Good Man Down? you'll be transported approximately 40 years back in time. In fact, if you were to take even the most cursory of looks at the album art while you listened you could not be blamed for believing that this was a reissue from an obscure and long-forgotten '60s soul group.

But you would be nonetheless mistaken!

Witness: Sharon Jones is a 47-year-old with a powerful, time-worn voice. The Dap-Kings are a group of young men with whimsical psuedonyms like Boogaloo Velez and Binky Griptite. Producer, arranger, writer, and player Bosco Mann is a fellow obviously brimming with ambition. Should it take this many people to make a sound not far removed from the classic Motown groove? I guess so, though Jones is more Martha than Diana.

Like those enduring Motown singles, the lyrics are simple, but illuminate the twistier side of romance. Take that opener How Do I Let A Good Man Down?: Sharon has found herself interested in two men, one gives her "comfort," the other gives her "chills." Take a look at that title again, then take a guess at which one she's going with. My Man Is A Mean Man indicates, beneath a roiling bassline, that perhaps she's chosen poorly.

One thing is clear, Jones is not to be messed with. She may have her weaknesses, as shown on the exes-who-can't-let-go ballad Stranded In Your Love and the rueful closer All Over Again, but she is also a tough cookie. You're Gonna Get It is not a threat of punishment, at least not one you'd hate to suffer. Your Thing Is A Drag is a withering indictment of a man who always wants to go home early and drinks juice instead of liquor. Jones and I wouldn't make a good couple.

But the queen of sass outdoes herself on How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? The song is lyrically interesting because though she sounds fed up, she's obviously still not ready to leave the table. Musically, the song sounds so familiar I'd be surprised if it's not already being used in a pharmacutical advertisement.

As if this wasn't all nostalgic enough, the album package lovingly recreates a time when art direction was headed in a better direction. Try Jones sitting in a blue and gold flowered dress and big hoop earrings, looking out a window. The cover tells us that the CD is "stereo compatible." There's a lauditory essay inside, and the album's 10 songs are split into "Side One" and "Side Two."

There are larger questions at work here, namely the one I opened with. How much artistic validity is there in recreating the past, and does it really even matter? If a lack of originality can produce such a fun listening experience then maybe originality needs to be redefined.

Grade: B
Fave Song: How Long Do I Have To Wait For You?

Comments

Anonymous said…
How can you be so naughty??!! These musicians did not recreate a past tide, a new version of soul! They are inspired by all the heritage of greatest names of soul music. "Naturally" is not a copy. If you do think so, why not stop composing and playing classical music because Mozart was a genius? What about Vivaldi? Albinoni? Ravel? This has just no sense!! Sorry. Music is a food. Every day we need all the music of the world to remains alive.
8:01 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Stuck, or Obsession Cessastion

You may have noticed that things have slowed down around here. I had the summer off from teaching, and I spent it with my 7 month-old son. I gave myself permission to make this blog less of a priority. Well, "less of a priority" is putting it lightly. Initially, I considered an abrupt retirement. But then I reconsidered. Maybe the proximity to Brett Favre is causing this. If you're a long time reader, this is probably not all that surprising to you. Since 2007, it has become an annual ritual for me to soul-search about my waning interest in music. First I blamed an inability to express myself and a lack of quality music . Then in 2008 I cited new technology and the death of the album . Last year I wrote about how my changing life priorities hindered my ability to seek out new music. I've done a lot of thinking about it this summer and in truth I believe this was all just dancing around the issue, a slow realization of something I didn't want to admit to myse...
7 comments
Read more

Billy Joel: 1980 - 1977

When I decided to write about every single Billy Joel studio album I knew had a bit of a leg up in that I'd written reviews of a handful of his records already. What I didn't realize until just now was that those reviews were of albums that had been released consecutively between 1977 and 1980. As I reread those reviews - the most recent of which is 14 years old! - I found that I still stand by them. My writing style has mellowed a bit, and I no longer give grades to albums, but otherwise my opinions then are my opinions now. So here you go... Billy Joel: Glass Houses (1980) Billy Joel: 52nd Street (1978) Billy Joel: The Stranger   (1977)
Post a Comment
Read more

Billy Joel: Greatest Hits, Volumes I and II (1985)

As you may know, I'm something of a connoisseur of compilations. I have three guidelines that I like my greatest hits to follow, though I am open to these rules being disregarded in certain cases. It's not an exact science. Billy Joel's 1985 Greatest Hits Volumes I and II (an odd title for a set that was never sold separately) is proof of that.  It mostly follows the rules. The songs are in chronological order. There are no remixes, just a couple of single edits; there are two live songs, but those were actually were the versions that charted. And there are two new songs - we'll get to them eventually - but both ended up in the Top 40, so in retrospect that was a good decision. My mom bought the double LP when it came out and then dubbed it to a tape that lived in her car for at least three years. It and An Innocent Man were part of the soundtrack of the second half of my first decade of life. So I have a hard time criticizing something so ingrained in my consciousne...
Post a Comment
Read more