Monday, November 2, 2009

The Derek Trucks Band - Songlines 2006


The Derek Trucks Band - Songlines 2006

Blues

Derek Trucks is one of the two or three most distinct and recognizable instrumental voices in popular music today. He's like Carlos Santana, in that he can toss in a 2-note lick and instantly you know its him.

This record is truly a "band" record. That might disappoint some, who were hoping to hear the songs as vehicles for Derek's extended shredding. Instead, the song is king, and Trucks uses his Jedi guitar is the service of the song.

Using Santana as a reference point, that makes this record more like Supernatural than Borboletta. Its easy to listen to, easy for the casual fan to get his or her ear around. "Revolution," for example, is as close to a radio-friendly single as Trucks has ever come. Yet the record is steeped in spirituality, in the healing power of music, and ulitimately the distinctions between the song and the jam seem to melt away into the sea of musical redemption.

The percussive work of Count M'Butu, enmeshed with drummer Yonrico Scott, gives the whole record a unified feel, a sort of World Music, African shimmy that ties together the middle-eastern-flavored numbers (the extended set piece, "Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni"), the straight blues ("Crow Jane"), the R'n'B ("I Wish I Knew"), and the rockers ("Revolution.") The music hops genres, but the essential underpinning-- what the Aborigines thought of as "the labarynth of invisible pathways which meander all over Australia"-- is the deep network of "Songlines" that tie all the music together and lead to the heart. Trucks and company weave a magical web that revels in the interconnectedness of all things by embracing different musical forms and faces, connected at the root by these ancient, mystical songlines.

"Volunteer Slavery" serves as an incantation, a welcome into the record, flipping over into "I'll Find My Way;" here, vocalist Mike Mattison makes his entrance and establishes himself as a player to be reckoned with; Derek lays down his first significant solo about 4 minutes into the record, and its a quick hit-and-run. "Crow Jane," a jaunty 8-bar blues (a la "Key to the Highway"), starts as a bluesy call-and response between Derek's guitar and Mattison's vocals before the band kicks in.

"Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni" is a segueing of two concert staples, 10 minutes of middle eastern vibe where Kofi Burbridge's flute steps to the fore to add color and texture. Derek takes several extended jaunts, and this is probably the piece on the album that most evokes the feel of the band's live performances.

"Chevrolet" is another blues, the rich percolation still present undrneath; "Sailing On" is a sweet melody that will bring a smile to your face; Mattison sings the hell out of it, Derek lays on the fire and ice. "Revolution" wants to be a million-selling duet with Santana; "I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled and Crazy" is a percolating, funk of a shuffle, with bassist Todd Smalle laying down the groove, Derek's dobro slapping out twang over the top.

On "All I Do," the album begins its home stretch. "All I Do" is funked-up blue-eyed soul with a touch of church, and some of Derek's most inventive, jazzy playing on the record. "Mahjoun" is an instrumental track that harkens back to the opener, while charting a course for the two closing numbers, further on up the songline. "I Wish I Knew" is a soulful, joyous rave-up, almost gospel; Derek spatters a rainbow of joy across the sky on the outro.

The entrance of the closing "This Sky" is almost sacred, riding in the pocket where blues, jazz, soul, funk, and gospel flow together to become music of the heart. Derek's sublime play-out at the end puts the record to bed, Burbridge's flute providing a serene cushion, Mattison singing "Fly, fly away" in wistful tones as Derek's guitar does just that, gently ascending to the heavens.

At this point, you might be tempted to hit "play" again.
By J. Chasin.
**
Derek Trucks is truely a incredible guitarist who is in his prime. His slide playing has been compared to such greats as Duane Allman. Songlines is by far his best album I think for any derek trucks fan. He blends alot of creativity in songlines and it is easy to see why not just he is so great but the band as well. Todd Smallie(bass), Yonrico Scott(drums, percussion), Kofi Burbridge(Keyboards), Mike Mattison(Vocals), Count M'Butu(Congas). The entire band comes from different parts of the world and blends their musical influences together to create something much stronger than any average band. Songlines will take you on a musical journey from the getgo. This entire album is strong. I have seen derek a couple of times and as of now he is right on top with the other greats (in his prime). He has a real passion for the guitar which is obvious, it shows how expanded he has gotten since his first debut album Derek Trucks. My personal favorites are Crow Jane, I Wish I Knew, Sailing On, and All I Do. Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni is a strong jam that is not a lost jam. Derek keeps the focus on his band on songlines, not so much on guitar.... which shows how mature he is as a guitarist. Chevrolet is a strong song with dobro guitar supposly the guitar he plays on this song was supposedly owned by Bukka White a true slide legend. Inside this booklet their are pictures of the band, derek's son, and father. Just as it says in the back page of the booklet. Music (...) is a memory bank for finding one's way about the world. Im truely inspired. Highly Recommended!!
**
Derek Trucks- Guitar and dobro;
Mike Mattison- Vocals;
Kofi Burbridge- Keyboards, flute, vocals;
Todd Smallie- Bass, vocals;
Yonrico Scott- Drums,percussion and vocals;
Count M'Butu- Percussion;
Jay Joyce- Keyboards.
**
01. Volunteered Slavery  2:04
02. I'll Find My Way  4:22
03. Crow Jane  3:52
04. Sahib Teri Bandi - Maki Madni; Sahib Teri Bandi\ Maki Madni  9:54
05. Chevrolet  2:23
06. Sailing On  3:47
07. Revolution  3:07
08. I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled And Crazy  4:32
09. All I Do  6:29
10. Mahjoun  2:27
11. I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)  4:06
12. This Sky  6:30
**
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