Customer Reviews

Mighty High

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I LOVE Gov't Mule. This disc, however, will probably go down as my least favorite.
It's an interesting sidebar to Mule's occasional forays into reggae and "dub" (hinted at in concert with faves like "I'm a Ram" and "Unring the Bell"), but ultimately it comes off not as a proper Gov't Mule release but more like a remix effort. It's trippy and there's some fun stuff here, but if you're looking for heavy riffs and blues based rock that the Mule is known for, this isn't exactly where you'll want to start.

Not my favorite Mule album by a long shot, but still a mighty fine project from the Mule. Has some great studio cuts of a few of their live staples and some great guest musicians coming in on a couple tracks. Very laid back and mellow, great for a drive or some late night tunes.

I feel like most of the people who aren't digging this album just don't have an appreciation for the nature of the genre that Mule has incorporated into their music here. If you're capable of looking past your expectations for blues rock from this band, then you can probably find a great deal to like about this album as I did.

If you just absolutely don't like dub then don't bother.

The power of the mule is the heart in the music. If fans are looking for straight ahead blues rock, they are likely to be disappointed. Similarly don't look for endless guitar solos tearing around every corner. This album is produced in classic dub fashion, some tunes are reworked multiple times but each reflecting the originality and power that Gov't Mule brings to the music. Yes there is guitar here enough to satisfy, and yes the Mule 'team' is harnessed with all cylinders banging. Rocking reggae layered instrumentation... I'm sorry I missed the concert... I bet the extended solos were pure bliss. Test the samples if you are not afraid of what you hear, your ears will be rewarded with this purchase.

Always up for new Mule, I pre-ordered this disc, and got a free Mule Mix Vol #1 with it. Having seen the band 4 times this year (Mtn. Jam III, Boston Mule, and Portland Maine @ The Merrill Auditorium), I was well acquainted with the reggae versions of many Mule songs such as Soulshine, off the Live at Easy Street EP. It's refreshing to see an established artist take a chance and go out on a limb, and that's really what Gov't Mule is for me. Improvisation and taking chances. It would get tired if all Warren and Co. did was continually churn out the same type of songs over and over. If you look back over the entire Mule catalog, you'll see this variation of styles. Not to mention the variation of covers they do live and in the studio. This is their strength. Versatility, and morphing one style to the other.

All this being said, I like what I hear on this disc! While it is a bit repetitive, the repetitiveness is the glue that holds the whole project together. The 'I'm a Ram opener' is killer. If you've heard it live, the studio version is just that more defined, and open sounding. Willi Williams, Toots Mayall, and Michael Franti all blend in to make the dub mixes stand out. The Franti rap from Hunter Mtn III was great to see in person, and intermixed with the Bonnaroo rap is even better.The disc just has a laid back feeling, that would lend itself to be played at a party where people could socialize, enjoy the music, and not get entirely caught up in the total listening aspect of it. Think of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon, where the atmosphere is created, and the songs just flow. Same deal here. Warren sets the mood, and the songs flow together as if your sitting in Jamaica, with a great dub DJ melding all the great music together, binding it with favorites, and unknowns.

While I wouldn't place this in the category of 'Dose', "Life Before Insanity" or "Deja Voodoo", it is a great listen that I'm sure will find it's way into your CD player more often than you would think. When you get down to it, Mighty High is just another "flavor" of the Mule. Take a chance and expand your listening horizons. I'd rather listen to stuff like this, than listen to the radio and the same tired garbage we keep getting force fed by the monopolized radio market.

Warren Haynes has always been a devotee of old R&B, soul and reggae. While this cd is distinctly different than other Mule albums, it is nevertheless a Mule classic. Mule originals as well as such covers of The Band's "The Shape I'm In", Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle"(w/ reggae pioneer Toots Hibbert) and The Rolling Stones' "Play With Fire"(featuring Michael Franti) show the abilty to transcend musical genres while still staying "heavy". I think many of the less positive reviews are a result of Mule fans who do not like reggae sounding off. A must have for any Mule collector or reggae fan!

I'm a big Mule and Reggae Fan.. This is some Fantastic Music!! Andy Hess's Bass playing is well worth the Cost of this CD alone. " Play with Fire" is Smokin'!!
It's good to see the Mule experimenting outside of their normal Power Blues/ Jam format. IMHO, I found every Track here very enjoyable. Sure, not for everyone, but being a Hard-Core Mule fan, I loved it, and will listening to this CD for a while.

Well done, I say, to the men of Gov't Mule. In releasing 'Mighty High' they display the courage of their musical convictions. Obviously, the tasteful experimentation on display here is not every listener's cup of tea. Reading the prior reviews seems to indicate that people who rate it lower don't like their bands to deviate from the predictable norm. Those who rate it higher come to the Mule with no preconceptions and appreciate this album for what it is. And, in my opinion, what it is is mighty fine. It must have been a real joy for the band to get a workout with this material. Matt Abts, the drummer, proves himself to be particularly capable in the engine room of Dub...he sounds especially tasty and is well complemented by the rest of the band. Andy Hess, veteran of such groups as the Black Crowes, plays a tight, pulsing bass that is full of presence and keyboardist Danny Louis is integral to the dub sound. Warren's guitar and vocal tone is as tuff as ever, and the collaborations with reggae/dub artists are sweet. It is good to see the long-revered Mule kickin' down on the dub/reggae jams. Whatever next...?

As a long-time Mule fan, I was a little apprehensive about this release.
But I've listened to it 3 times and I like it a little better each time. Warren Haynes steps out of the spotlight on most of the tunes, letting the rythem section and the guest singers take over. The repetitive beats and rythems give it a trance feel. Very different, very cool.
The "live" bonus disk does not add anything new. All of those songs have been released, or at least heard, before, by most Mule fans. However, I give credit to Warren and the Mule as they continue to be more prolific than most bands.
Thumbs up !

This album was originally going to be an EP, that is why the album is based around 4 songs. I really like this album, but it does get a little repetitive if you listen to it all they way through. I think it might be more enjoyable in a cd changer or on an ipod mixed in with some other albums, so the same baselines aren't heard over and over. As for the previous posters comments, I do not believe theat The Mule will stay this direction. You might hear a song or two in the futre using a reggae beat or style, but Warren has always mixed his styles on Mule albums. I agree that the Franti songs are standouts, I really enjoy the cover of the Stones "Play with Fire" and the Band cover of "Shape Im In". Most of the songs are based on "Im a Ram" and "Unring the Bell". I believe that these are the two songs that inspired them to make this album therefore they had a few different mixes including instrumentals that they had made and put them on here because they are pretty cool jams. Just be prepared to hear the baselines from those two songs a couple times and take it for what it is, The Mule haveing fun with reggae.

I'm listening as I write this. I have been hearing "Rebel With A Cause" on XM Radio's "The Joint" and went looking for the album. I have been a Mule-head for years and years, but this is now one of my favorite CDs from them. My advise for any who've never seen Warren and the boys...run and get tickets next time they tour near you. Fantastic live show!!!