After a five decade career, it sounds like the Blind Boys of Alabama have created a new genre: art blues gospel? Yeah, and it works. The legendary elderly, sightless, senior citizen soul/gospel pathfinders have teamed up with ace players such as guitarist David Lindley, harmonica blower Charlie Musselewhite, and stand-up bassist Dammy Thompson for a dozen tunes where solid godliness meets adventurously Americana musical hipsterism from some traditional and unexpected lyrical sources. Just par for the course to Peter Gabriel's eclectic Realworld label. But Tom Waits and the Rolling Stones as gospel? Dang straight, as the former's "Jesus Gonna Be Here" undergoes an irony-ectomy, and the latter's "Just Wanna See His Face" serendipitously coincides with Jagger's possible spiritual rejuvenation (see his recent solo album). Fittingly enough, the Stones cover is followed by "The Last Time," a trad spiritual from which the Glimmer Twins may have derived their own so titled tune. Other surprise highlights: a take on Ben Harper's compassionate "Give A Man A Home," and a killer recasting of "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun," a folk and blues standard before the Animals got hold of it. Amazing indeed. As if everyone from Screamin' Jay Hawkins to Rufus Thomas hadn't before, these Blind Boys prove that old black guys can rock. And for the Lord. Sweet.
Editors' ratings - Doug 4/5, Jason 4/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Steve StockmanWhen I introduced The Blind Boys of Alabama on my radio show as my album of the week and informed my listeners that they have been playing Gospel music since 1939, many tried to get their heads around about how old that might make them, and if it was the same band. Others laughed in disbelief that these groovemeisters might be in their eighties! This reaction shows two things. First, there's a…Similar sounding releases
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