Customer Reviews

Anutha Zone

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is quite an album. I'm surprised that FM stations didn't play it more. There are a few tracks that would have turned some new people onto the Doctor - for example: Soulful Warrior. It's a very powerful song, blusey, fonky and certainly would attract new listeners to the Doctor. I could listen to this CD for hours on end. I find it draws me in and keeps me there. "Zonata" instantly shows just what an accomplished piano player this man is! "Ki Ya Gris Gris" brings you back to the spritual hoodoo side of New Orleans. You'll just want to sit and close your eyes and feel lifted! "Sweet Home New Orleans" is one of my personal favorites. Makes me want to go get on a plane and head down there for Jazz Fest! Buy this, you won't regret it!

At first blush this album may sound overproduced and underwritten - a lot of different sounds (both musical and atmospheric) but not a lot melody or range. But after a few listens, it grows like spanish moss, reaching into little nooks and crannies of your brain and soul. I know this sounds like a cheesy platitude, but there is so much going on in the mix that it is initially very hard to distinguish the melodies and harmonies that are woven together. Had they never sorted themselves out after multiple listenings, I would call this a sonic mush, but after a while, the melodies come to the fore and the layers of the sound can be distinguished and appreciated for their odd hypnotic affect. The only real sonic complaint I have after multiple listens is that bass seems WAY over-pumped.

As for individual tracks, my favorite is I Don't Want to Know, which is really a beautiful and uplifting combination of lyric and music. Soulful Warrior is also a strong musical statement. Sweet Home New Orleans deviates from the rest of the pack in both sound and theme and, while good, doesn't fit the rest of the album. Everything in between is very good to great, with the possible exception of the The Stroke and the chorus in Hello God, which I found somewhat grating, and the end Voices in my Head, which to me remains a sonic mush nothwithstanding the obvious theme.

I urge you to give this a few listens before making up your mind on it - in that way it kind of reminds me of Exile on Main Street - both are dense and murky, but when the lightbulb finally comes on, it shines pretty brightly.

Probably a 4 1/2 star effort, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

The older they get, the eccentric they become. Or is it that they become more confident and therefore take more risks? Reading Dr. John's notes for the album may seem like the rambling of a fool but I'm sure he is aware of the destination he approaches because I don't. What I may know is that Dr. John dwells into the mystical side of New Orleans and rambles on about voodoo and other spiritual connections he may have with the man upstairs. He questions the Lord in Hello God and then dances with the devil in The Stroke, denouncing Hell and Death. A few of the tracks have that sense of devilish mystery, with Ki Ya Gris sung in a raspy voice, over beating drums, calling on the witch doctor. Even more, the ghost of John Gris, with a jazzy fusion feel, will keep you awake at nights.

But Dr. John is not praying to the devil as he tells us in I Don't Want To know, "I don't wanna know about evil, I only wanna know about love....". This track with its catchy tune is supported by the creative skills of Paul Weller, who also has a hand in the heavy blues riff of Party Hellfire, two of my favourite tracks on the album. Dr. John hasn't lost his jazz / blues roots as yet. What he achieves is the use of this style to tell bedtime horror stories in I Like Ki Yoka and Olive Tree. At the end of it all, he returns to his standard self, not losing any of the style and skills he has developed over the years when Sweet Home New Orleans breaks into the boogie sound allowing the piano keys to resonate into the next surprise Dr. John may bring us.

Without a doubt, the single best album I have ever spent money on. If you love Jazz, buy it. If you love Blues, buy it. If you love things New Orleans, buy it. If you love things Louisiana, buy it.

How fantastic is this album? I have bought it 3 times. CDs are far too fragile, and I play this one so much that I have scratched it to hell and back and have bought this album 3 times. I will very soon buy it a fourth. It is money well spent, and I never for a moment feel cheated.

There is not a single track that I could not listen to over and over.

Dr. John I don't want to know about evil, I only want to know about love. And I love Anutha Zone.

I bought this CD because I wanted the liner details, cover art, etc. A friend had given me just the CD, and I immediately adored it. If you enjoyed the "old" Dr. John of the gris-gris-gumbo-ya-ya type, this is similar but even better. It takes the jazzy riffs that the Doctor gets into, but blends it with the swamp funk that really makes a tasty gumbo!

Dr John is an artist with an incredibly original voice. He appears to be immune from the creative burnout that claims so many musicians in the later years of their life. Anutha zone is a masterpiece, but a word caution to those thinking of buying this import the listing incorrectly states the presence of two bonus tacks when in fact a closer look reveals that Look Out is the ONLY BONUS TRACK. Though look out is a great song, many may find its not worth the additional $, therfore I advise purchase of this import only for hardcore dr john fans, who find themselves yearning for more of the soulful gris gris master after listening to the US release.

From start to finish a totally enjoyable cd. It is good to hear music like this that reminds me of his early days.