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Review
Carolina Chocolate Drops are one of the last exponents of Piedmont string’n’jug band music, an African-American rural style dating back to the early 20th century from the Piedmont Plateau, essentially the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains.
For the most part this album’s an unashamedly foot-stomping countrified fiddle-and-banjo racket, and with it the trio reclaim what is usually assumed to be exclusively hillbilly property. But this historic black style is mountain music with something more, as these 12 tracks show how it fits between the European quadrilles and the Anglo/Celtic folk that came across the Atlantic and the rural blues and ragtime jazz that grew out the American South, informing so much contemporary music. And in the hands of the Carolina Chocolate Drops this history lesson is far from dry.
The relatively youthful threesome learned their craft from original Piedmont players and swap instruments – banjo, fiddle, jug, harmonica, guitar, snare drum and kazoo – with ease, and although they all sing, the guys, Dom Flemons and Justin Robinson, leave most of the vocals to the opera-trained Rhiannon Giddens. Cleverly, the group mix traditional songs with original compositions and a couple of surprising covers, allowing them to honour the past, then subtly nudge it forward linking it to the modern music they grew up with.
Of the former, Cindy Gal, Cornbread and Butterbeans and Sandy Boys are joyous jigs, with lyrics about life in general, while Snowden’s Jig and the stunning, a cappella Reynadine show the pensive, bluesy side of the original style. New song Kissin’ and Cussin’ arranges the mountain instruments into what becomes an intriguing contemporary ballad, while their turning of Tom Waits’ Trampled Rose into syncopated country blues adds yet another layer of poignancy to an already heart-wrenching number.
The big surprise, though, is the pickin’, fiddlin’ and slappin’ version of Blu Cantrell’s Hit ‘em Up Style, which totally countrifies an urban classic to create a tune that would be just as at home in hoedown as any blinging city nightclub. It’s the highlight of an extraordinary and stylish album. --Lloyd Bradley
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Product Description
2010 gem from acoustic string-band revivalists with a modern twist - features 'Hit'em Up Style'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Applachians have always been associated with blue grass and the white music of the lost provinces of North Carolina and the Blue Ridge mountains. Slave labour was as useful in the mountains as the Mississippi Delta and by the mid 19th century there was a considerable black musical presence in North Carolina and Virginia which drew on the Scots and Irish music traditions as their African roots. The Carolina Chocolate Drops are superbly gifted musicians who bring alive this tradition along with rag-time blue grass and traditional British folk tunes. 'Snowden's Jig' (the genuine negro jig of the title) dates from Appalachia 1850 and sits comfortably with the up tempo novelty song 'Cornbread and Butterbeans', the 1920s torch song 'Why Don't You Do Right' and Papa Charlie Jackson's rag 'Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine.'
This is not prissy perfect musical homage to a dead tradition but a vibrant reinterpretation of fabulous roots music. Just listen to 'Peace Behind the Bridge' or 'Hit 'em Up Style' if you need convincing.
This is not prissy perfect musical homage to a dead tradition but a vibrant reinterpretation of fabulous roots music. Just listen to 'Peace Behind the Bridge' or 'Hit 'em Up Style' if you need convincing.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Carolina Chocolate Drops bring us a revival of a black string-band tradition that originated in the Piedmont region of the Carolinas in the nineteenth century. This tradition was a strong influence in popular music both in America and Britain in the early part of the last century but has now fallen into neglect.
Not one of the 12 tracks on this album is a miss. It gets off to a lively start with an ideal scene-setting instrumental, Peace Behind the Bridge, with fiddle, banjo and bones. The title track is actually renamed Snowden's Jig on the album, in honor of the Snowden family, from whom the tune was probably originally collected, back in the 1800s. It is another instrumental - syncopated, slow and haunting.
Reynadine is the track closest to the older British ballad tradition that forms an important part of this music's heritage. Fragmentary and mysterious, it may date back not much earlier than 1800, and exists in several versions. It is here sung a cappella by Rhiannon Giddens, and very beautiful it is, too. It showcases her wonderful voice better than any other track, and it's no surprise to learn that she was opera trained.
Hit 'em Up Style and Trampled Rose add contemporary influences into the mix, so that the collection comes across as a revived but continuing, living tradition.
[PeterReeve]
Not one of the 12 tracks on this album is a miss. It gets off to a lively start with an ideal scene-setting instrumental, Peace Behind the Bridge, with fiddle, banjo and bones. The title track is actually renamed Snowden's Jig on the album, in honor of the Snowden family, from whom the tune was probably originally collected, back in the 1800s. It is another instrumental - syncopated, slow and haunting.
Reynadine is the track closest to the older British ballad tradition that forms an important part of this music's heritage. Fragmentary and mysterious, it may date back not much earlier than 1800, and exists in several versions. It is here sung a cappella by Rhiannon Giddens, and very beautiful it is, too. It showcases her wonderful voice better than any other track, and it's no surprise to learn that she was opera trained.
Hit 'em Up Style and Trampled Rose add contemporary influences into the mix, so that the collection comes across as a revived but continuing, living tradition.
[PeterReeve]
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this CD after attending their show in Glasgow. What a tremendous performance that was - exquisite skills, yet modest in manner and relaxed with the audience whom they encouraged to sing along, dance, or whatever. Superb entertainers as well as superb musicians. As an encore, encouraged by a standing ovation, the main vocalist, Rhiannon Giddens, knocked the socks off the locals with a high intensity rendition of Gaelic mouth music. Anyway, back to the CD. Glad I bought it - several of the tracks were in the Glasgow show and will help remind me of it. The recordings I suppose are technically excellent, but they do not capture the delightful stage presence and charm of this trio. Jump at any chance to see them in action, and failing that, buy their CDs!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Genuine Negro jig
Great Album really liked it and am hooked on hearing more. Thank you Paul Jones of Radio 2 for playing them in the first place.
Published 2 months ago by kng
Must-hear music
Saw this band recently on a Sky re-run of the Cambridge Folk Festival where they were simply incredible (as by the way was Seasick Steve). You cannot help but love this music. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Pablo
real foot-tapping stuff
Saw this group on the Andrew Marr Sunday morning show. Went to the computer and ordered the album there and then. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Daphne Burman
joy of just living
This wonderful CD guaranteed to make you dance around your kitchen trying to reach anything you can to make a musical instrument so that you can join in their joy of just living. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Patzi-Ellen
Exciting Music !!
This is excellent!! A great blend of high-octane playing and very good singing. One to listen to again and again because it gets better...
Published 21 months ago by Lew Jackson
be prepared to be blown away
I bought this after it was recommended to me - I was absolutely blown away. the mix of tranditional and new arrangements is simply exquisite
Published on 8 April 2010 by Twiddles
What a find!
I brought this for my husband's birthday. He had heard it on radio 4 of all places! We had never heard of them before but now are both completely hooked. Lovely. Give it a try.
Published on 5 April 2010 by W. Hobden
FANTASTIC
fantastic ,great musicians,Rhiannon has a terrific voice,heard them in Glasgow,at Celtic Connections,then bought the c.d.
Published on 5 Mar 2010 by fran
Don't cha wish your baby was sweet like mine...
In my review of their debut CD 'Dona Got a Ramblin' Mind' I wondered if the Chocolate Drops would be able to "develop the music rather than just preserving it" and in this record I... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by G. E. Harrison
Excellent album
If you like your old timey American music gutsy and modern this for you. What can I say? A great band
Published on 4 Feb 2010 by Roj
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