Controversial Negro [Explicit]

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: May 18, 2010
• Label: Shout! Factory
• Copyright: (P) 2010 The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion under license to Majordomo Records, a division of Shout! Factory LLC, 2042-A Armacost Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025. All rights reserved.
• Total Length: 1:13:55
• Genres:
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• ASIN: B003LNKI1Y
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,299 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Controversial Caucasians, July 9, 2010

By 

Paul Rayson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Controversial Negro [Explicit] (MP3 Download)

The official Controversial Negro used to be available only in Japan. It was out in 1997 and recorded the year before in Tuscan, Arizona, although the nine songs at the end of this reissue are from 1994. Promo versions had a cool Mick Jagger cover, but they had to replace that when Mick Jagger said so. They replaced him with an ape. The cover of the reissue, which preserves the Japan design, is still pretty cool.

The Blues Explosion play best in concert, so a record of it is vital. The outtakes and alternate versions of songs, say, on Mo' Width or the Now I Got Worry reissue testify that the band are in an ongoing conversation with rock & roll. A conventional studio album catches only part of the conversation. Collaborations such as those with R.L. Burnside get another side of it, of course. A live version of a song, though, expands more on what they're talking about, and sometimes it's dirtier.

The "hits" are in the set ("Afro", "Bellbottoms", "Flavor"). The show-stopper "Blues X Man" is in the set. The liner notes, as with those for the Dirty Shirt Rock 'N' Roll compilation and Now I Got Worry reissue, are filled with insight and diverse detail (hardware info: they used vintage Music Mann and Sunn amplifiers!). The theremin is in full effect. Enjoy the show.