Tribal

Dr. John | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 3, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 429 Records
• ASIN: B003K2SD36
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,652 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Iconic American musician Dr. John goes TRIBAL with the follow-up to his 2008 Grammy Award Winning release 'The City That Care Forgot' for 'Best Contemporary Blues Album.'
TRIBAL, featuring a track with Grammy winner Derek Trucks, is a unique spicy mix of New Orleans funk and blues with a spiritual and Native flavor with songs written by Dr John and a few of his friends - Allen Toussaint and the late Bobby Charles and joined by his ultra funky Lower 911 band of musicians.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mac Trucks!!!!, August 5, 2010

By 

W. David English (Somerville, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tribal (Audio CD)

Of all the musicians who emerged in the sixties and who are now creeping towards their eighth decade, no one has done so with more grace than Mac Rebennack---Dr. John. But then, he always seemed to be an old soul, even when he was a young buck. Old not in the sense of infirm or worn-out, but old in the sense of having a world of experience and amassed skills. Health permitting, he will be able to continue to do what he has always done with no loss of dignity for decades longer, and I hope he does. His voice, as instantly recognizable as Satchmo's, has not changed one bit. People can imitate Armstrong---Tom Waits did so in "I Was I Was in New Orleans", and Ella Fitzgerald channelled Satch for a few bars, hilariously, on her "Ella is 40!" live album---but I've never heard anybody imitate Dr. John. If a cape buffalo could sing, this is what he would probably sound like---and this is a compliment. The fact that Dr. John is still with us and still performing and recording regularly is something to remember whenever gloom looms. And he is not coasting on past glories---"Tribal", his new album, stands among his best.

One quibble: I assume Dr. John wrote or co-wrote these songs, but the liner notes contain no songwriting credits---or at least none that I could detect. Whoever created them, they are a tasty blend of Dr. John funk, soul, R&B, and Big Easy gumbo. The backup band, the 911, is tight but loose---a contradiction, but one who hears this CD will understand. This album sounds very organic; it was probably cut live in the studio. Derek Trucks guest stars on one cut. No one song stands out as an instant classic, but all fourteen cuts are terrific.

Offhand, I cannot think of any recording artist not yet honored with a career-spanning box set who is more deserving of one than Dr, John. It's time somebody righted this wrong. I will suggest a title, and I think it's a pretty good one: DOC IN A BOX.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tribal, August 8, 2010

By 

RonSag - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tribal (Audio CD)

Dr John's new album is as fresh and innovative as any music he's done in the last thirty years! How does he do it? Most of his contemporaries are getting by singing their old hits in casinos and concerts. Dr John is still fresh-still pounding out songs with the same musicality and funky feel. Three bars into any Dr. John song and you know it's his music. He's covered many other artist's songs, but few can cover his- and no one else can come up with that sound- that music.

Most of the songs on this album are short. There's a lot of versitality in the music on this album. He could have turned any one of these songs into a ten minute riff, but instead he chose to give us a taste of many things from his menu. You get the feeling that the good doctor has a lot more to say.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dr is WAY IN, August 3, 2010

By 

Fischer "musicdude" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tribal (Audio CD)

The Voice of NOLA strikes again - and with the help of Derek trucks ( for my money the top new guitar-slinger out there ) = very cool album.