Anutha Zone

Dr. John | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 11, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B000009OGU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,844 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ohhhh yeah. This tha TRUE prescription., March 13, 2001

By 

Leigh Ann Hussey "motogrrl" (SF Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anutha Zone (Audio CD)

From the very first notes, I knew I had something good in my hands. Unlike a previous reviewer, I don't find "the 'gris gris' stuff" old -- but then, I loved "Gris Gris" best of all Dr. John's older albums, and "Back to New Orleans" best of all his later albums, so that ought to give you an idea of where I'm coming from.

Like "Gris Gris", "Anutha Zone" partakes of the spiritual and magical in places -- but unlike "Gris Gris", "Anutha Zone" benefits from all of the higher-quality production techniques of thirty years later. You can even hear a little of "Walk on Gilded Splinters" in "John Gris", with the female backup chorus (mostly the London Gospel Community Choir).

And while I'm on the subject of backups, let me just mention how ably the good Doctor is supported by his band. Butt-twitchin rhythm provided by the likes of percussionist Sammy Figueroa and a variety of kit drummers, and powerfully sensitive guitar playing by Paul Weller, Bobby Broom and Matt Deighton.

And as for the Doctor himself? He's at the top of his form, lyrically and musically (on some of the songs, his wife Cat Yellen shares the lyric credit). My favorite line in the entire album, from the title track:

"And the lesson you can never forget / is the lesson you ain't gotten yet."

From somber and pensive to greeeezy richness to unabashed party-fonk, that gumbo-spice voice sure is to my taste, and it's never tasted better.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never mind the content, FEEL the voice, July 9, 2000

By 

Junglies (Morrisville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Anutha Zone (Audio CD)

I have always liked Dr. John, but not always liked the music. But what a wonderful and rich evocative voice. Along with a handful of others, Captain Beefheart and John Martyn to name just two, his voice conjures up images and feelings like no other. This album is a throwback in some ways to Gris-Gris and Babylon, to be sure and is a diversion away from the blues and jazz which has characterized a lot of his career but to create visions in the mind of voodoo and swampland is an awesome gift and this album achieves this in no small part. I could talk about individual songs but I prefer the imagery and symbolism of the album as a whole. Pity Joe Cocker could not learn from this guy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great songs, over-busy production., October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Anutha Zone (Audio CD)

Another of Dr John's finest. However, a word must be said about John Leckie's production; Dr John's fantastic piano playing is reduced to the far distance on the mix. Pity.