Change Our Ways
No sophomore jinx here. "Change Our Ways" is every bit as soulful as
the band's debut release "Been a Long Time Coming" with a little funk
thrown in for good measure. Once again Freddie Cunningham's vocals
take center stage with solid backing from the band, especially Greg
Nagy on guitar who knows how to work a groove without overworking it,
a rare thing in today's "blooz rock" saturated music scene. Special
guests The Motor City Horns add just the right touch of R&B to keep
feet tapping and heads swaying.
The big surprise this time out is the prominence given to Jim
Alfredson on Hammond B3. Alfredson, who has two releases to his own
credit, can play Saturday night funky on the Meters classic "People
Say" and moments later take you to Sunday morning services on the
band's cover of the Warren Haynes penned "Soul Shine," a version so
soulful it makes you want to drop an extra dollar in the collection
plate!
But the real story here is Freddie Cunningham. Anyone who thinks old
school soul died with Otis Redding need only give a listen to
Freddie's cover of the Temptation's "I Wish it Would Rain." Freddie's
vocals, combined with Jim Alfredson's arrangement, discover the
despairing emotional content of the lyrics only hinted at in the
original. Feeling bad never sounded so good.
"Change Our Ways" is one of my favorite releases of 2007 and should go
a long way toward bringing Root Doctor the national recognition the
band so richly deserves.
Mark Hillsman
Host of the Blues Blowout
Pirate Radio WIVI 96.1 FM
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
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