Is it live or is it Memorex? Sharon Jones and the Dap King bring back the beat of the 60's and 70's.
Many artists have played retro-cool over the years, waiting until a forgotten musical style goes out of fashion so it could be adapted to modern use. Earlier this year, Amy Winehouse played the retro-cool card to strong effect with her hit "Rehab". Her rehash of classic Soul spun with a modern 'tude won fans before she pulled a Michael Jackson and lost her mind. But beyond retro-cool lies traditionalism and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are that to a T.
The song "100 Days, 100 Nights" has been stuck in my mind for weeks now so I decided to get the album titled after the song. And what a treat it is, an old school Soul record with a heavy Stax and Motown influence. Live instruments play, the background vocals are of the call-and-response variety, horns sway and charge while Jones holds down the middle with her commanding rasp.
It's hard to pick out highlights because every song sounds like a classic hit that could easily stand beside Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin on the radio. Regardless of what 70's subgenre of Soul they're mining they deliver an honest appreciation for this style of music. What could easily be contrived comes across as effortless and exciting. 100 Days, 100 Nights is a great record worth a listen.
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