Customer Reviews

Deep Cuts

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Top notch release from a swamp rock original. A modern touch added to a few of his classics. Similar to but not quite as over-the-top as the studio craft exhibited on RL Burnside's last releases on Fat Possum. "Purists" like to whine & bitch. But what's the problem with a deserving artist making some money by molding his music perhaps to attract a younger listener brought up in a ProTools world, especially when the music doesn't lose it's essential groove or identity? If you don't like it, listen to the old records and shut up.

There just is nothing out there like this. I saw TJW live in LA the other night, and he shook the rafters. I am wondering if the first reviewer even heard the cd, it sounds like he hated the concept. TJW is a special artist, and his sound takes its time, he's in no hurry. What you get are deep beats, that snake underneath each song, and dare you to slow down and listen. There is much more here than meets the ear the first time around. The sound is more modern than his older stuff, but maintains the booming voice, and that greasy, swamp rhythm, that he reintroduced on "Undercover". He also slips in some of the prettiest chord changes, that layer on top of this relentless beat and bring a humane quality you might not associate with this sound. This was the guy who wrote "Rainy Night in Georgia" My advice, turn off the phones, TV, pour a stiff one, and listen deep to or three times. It reveals itself slowly. Btw his band, which I believe had his son in it, were powerful. TJW, give him credit for not going down the same roads he could easily travel.. see him live..

WOW I was so disappointed when I red somewhere that Tony had a new cd coming out with "old" songs put in a new jacket. No way this cannot be, I said.
Bu as being a Tony Joe White fan since the 80's I just had to have this one too.
After listing to the first two songs I was blown away; I never thought this would be possible; it's perfect, it's swampy, it's bluesy, there's great harmony between Tony's guitar play and his son's beats and loops, great choice of songs. The production of the recording is brilliant. The cd builds up a mood like he did in the old days: swamp rock all the way.
A must have! You won't be dissapointed. Btw, try to catch him live on stage! You'll never forget the experience.

There is not a bad cut on this CD - as one of the other reviewers suggested, turn the lights down, grab a drink, put your arms around a loved one and let the music take you away.

Blues/Swamp Funk/updated sound. Very well done. Ignore the one review. Well worth the money.

A very mature, thoughtful and up to date sound from TJW under the production skills of his son - Jody - moody, even symphonic in its reach with aspects of Moby. Do not dismiss this album without hearing it - it is not a cheap update - but a revelation of the real depth of the originals - TJWs best album in some time and an opportunity to revisit Swamp Rock in all its glory. Funky.

I buy TJW's music. When it comes out, I buy it. That's just the way it is. I have to admit, I can't always define his music as great, I can just define as TJW music. And that is good enough for me. When I read that "Deep Cuts'" titles were old titles and, what I thought would be, just some more of the same, I was wrong. Yes, old songs but with a refreshing twist. I feel that this is one for the collection and for my personal tastes, it's one of his best. Moody, slow, funky, and more than just rehash on the swamp fire to mix up in your crawdad pie.

I love TJW's music and have everything he has released. I thought this concept might be okay and in other producers hands it might have been. But this isn't TJW with multiple variations on his old songs. It's one variation added to all the songs. They're harder, louder and longer but the length has nothing to do with experimentation or innovation - there's just a longer ending instrumental. My two main complaints are the mixing and song selection. Sometimes the mixing has the instrument overpower the vocals - almost to the point the vocals are lost. And TJW has enough songs that would have benefited from this treatment but some of these selections are quiet, narriative songs - in one case at least a ballad that was just the wrong selection. I listened to this a few times when I first bought it but haven't played it again since. It's certainly not a CD you want to play for someone if you were introducting them to TJW for the first time. It's for fans who will accept anything from TJW - like albums like Eyes and the Real Thang.

I like TJW, am not a huge fan but I like a lot of his work. That being said, this album is very, very cool--his son did a really nice job of producing. Like another reviewer remarked, you will be hooked after the first two cuts (the aptly named first tune, "Set the Hook", certainly does). If you are a fan of good music, you will like this CD. If you like good drumming and tasteful guitar playing, you will like this album. If you just enjoy listening to something that is well recorded, you found it. A bonus is this is a Tony Joe White album with his trademark swampy sound and bottom of a fifty gallon drum vocals!

Deep Cuts is another great album by the king of swamp music! The new versions of ten great Tony Joe songs are just excellent. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

I am a radio DJ in Auckland New Zealand and a fan of the man since I saw him as a guest on the Bobbi Gentry Show on TV when I was about 10yrs old. I love what Boozoo Bajou have done with Rainy Night as well as another sample voice / groove of his which name escapes me. This is a masterpiece, worth it for the High Sheriff alone but the killer for me is Aspen, Colorado which just aches with reflection and feeling. The space which his son creates with the grooves just adds to the poignancy of these tracks. I just hope they follow this up with more. Beyond Essential.