Customer Reviews

Bury the Hatchet

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

 

 

"Bury the Hatchet" rocks. With Monk Boudreaux, Anders delivers a free-wheeling set of tracks with extended jams, the shortest clocking in just a splash under 4 minutes. "I'm the Big, Big Chief" rocks out with chorus "Mardi Gras days." "Dive in the Gumbo" is a rocking funk piece while Tim Green's saxophone sasses up "Smoke It Right," complete with toking sound effects. In the liner notes Dr. John the Night Tripper expresses particular paritality to the traditional "Junko Partner" which rocks with a funky groove that slides right up to final measure. Raymond Williams' trumpet splashes through the New Orleans style jazz fusion of "They Don't Know." "Meet the Boyz On the Battlefront" has a reggae tinge; war has never sounded so good. "Summertime In New Orleans" has Anders' plunky piano stuttering through this mid-tempo track, "Fellas getting drunk on a Sunday; we all know they're just keeping cool; I'm hanging out playing card games with my new best friend whose got a pool." Exotic free form percussion ignites "Search Until You Find It" as Doug Belote's pounding drums propel this somewhat formless songscape. "Letters from Rome" is one of Anders midtempo shuffles, "I set course for tomorrow & make this ship go home." "What if you knew her & found her dead on the ground, how can you run when you know?" Anders sings on his rhythmic reading of Neil Young's "Ohio." "Take Me Downtown" is a big beat jazz track with Osborne's electric guitar run amok. The CD concludes with "Holding On" which has a sinister edge as the drums smash relentlessly. This CD with its emphasis on extended jams and full rush rhythms is a bit of a shift for those familiar with his other recorded work. However, it works incredibly well as you can taste the fun these guys had laying down these grooves. With its pounding rhythms, it ought to be heavily mixed into any party rotation. Don't miss out on this incredible burst of energy! Rock on!

This is an interesting collaboration by Anders Osborne and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux which acknowledges the contributions of the Mardi Gras Indians to the rich cultural mix of New Orleans. In actually, these are not Indians, but African-Americans that have banded together in "tribes" such as the Golden Eagles to which the Big Chief belongs. As noted in the liner, the tribal sound is spontaneous, often ragged and always geared to pure expression. As a result the songs on the CD are often upbeat and have somewhat of a party or festival liveliness. The songs are interesting and enjoyable with lead vocal duties switching between the Chief and Osborne. All of the songs, with the exception of the traditional "Meet The Boyz On The Battlefront" and Neil Young's "Ohio", were written either by Osborne or the Chief. "Ohio" is exceptionally done but, seems to be somewhat of a misfit on a CD of New Orleans funk. In any event, Osborne does such a good job at interpreting this classic that I could not bring myself to deduct anything for its inclusion. Overall, one of Osborne's best releases to date.

I love Anders' music and feel lucky to have found it. I picked up this CD last week and think it's good, but not as good as Living Room or Ash Wednesday. Hatchet is more of a party album while LR and Ash are more soulful and bluesy - he's got such a great voice and it's not used as well on Hatchet. Good CD and I recommend it, but Living Room and Ash Wednesday are superior in my mind.

Drive down the avenue of luscious oaks in Uptown New Orleans on a muggy summer night, sing "Stoned, Drunk and Naked" at the top of your lungs; and if you don't feel it? Check your pulse.