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Product Description
Review
The 93-year-old fiddler Joe Thompson died a week before this album was released. He had been a hero of old-time music in Mebane, North Carolina, and they used to say he was the last of the African-American string band players. And he could likely never have imagined his dusty tradition crossing not just the hills of the local Piedmont region but the world’s wide oceans, until he began to mentor a trio of young enthusiasts. Carolina Chocolate Drops have stretched the musical map a notch – and this high-profile follow-up to the Grammy-winning Genuine Negro Jig kicks off loyally with a stomping tune from Thompson’s repertoire.
It’s strong medicine, too, on an album that takes a less-compromising tilt at tradition than its predecessor. Reports and reviews will tell you about the prickly instrumentation: blowing jug and sawing fiddles, the mouth music of the beatboxer, the gut-string banjo and clacking cow bones of 19th century minstrelsy (“Saturday night femur,” ran one headline). But they don’t convey the tough, unnerving gusto of the music, and Buddy Miller’s production doesn’t smooth off any of the rough edges. The recording crackles with gasps and natural echo, and the virtuosity and imprecision of an ensemble playing full-tilt together. And it’s plain terrific.
Dispelling the myth that black music began with the blues, the Chocolate Drops have reclaimed a swathe of the musical styles that enlivened the South a hundred years ago. Their musical archaeology has taken them to documents like the 1870 songbook that provided the gourd-banjo instrumental Kerr’s Negro Jig, and to old-timers like Joe Thompson. In its early days, too, the group was fostered by Tim Duffy of the wonderful Music Maker Relief Foundation – a unique North Carolina institution that tracks down and supports forgotten musicians – and West End Blues is a mulish banjo tune from Music Maker’s Etta Baker (born 1913).
There’s artful variety; the band may have a particular approach, but they’re no purists. Ragtime, jug band novelties, calypso and even folk-rock jostle among the hoedowns and jigs. And Rhiannon Giddens’ compelling, often strident voice has never been more soulful than on the touching title-track.
--Ninian Dunnett
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Product Description
Nifty 2012 album! Bluegrass jug music 'n' prehistoric country from the North Carolina trio, for fans of Gillian Welch and Felice Brothers. Produced by Buddy Miller!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I completely agree with Alistair Moon's excellent review here. This is a terrific album, full of variety from the thumping, rough-edged traditional pieces to the mournful, beautiful and quite modern-sounding title track. The effect is terrific from beginning to end, created by some quite brilliant musicianship: excellent playing of a variety of instruments and wonderful, wonderful singing.
My advice is to read Mr Moon's review for a more detailed idea of the album and then to snap it up. It's an absolute gem.
My advice is to read Mr Moon's review for a more detailed idea of the album and then to snap it up. It's an absolute gem.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Carolina Chocolate Drops, a contemporary string band trio who, under the watchful eye of mentor Joe Thompson, re-created the look, feel, and sound of a 19th century black North Carolina string, fiddle, and jug band ensemble, crafted their first studio recordings into perfect facsimiles of the group's influences.
The Drops were always at their best on-stage, however, where the gospel stomp of those mountain rhythms and the kinetic energy the band gave off completed the feel of a living, breathing history lesson.
Those old string bands could turn on a dime, and the Chocolate Drops reproduced that art, turning their live sets into a black string band revival show. The studio albums felt like they were a bit encased in glass compared to the live performances.
For this outing, however, the Chocolate Drops found the perfect producer in Buddy Miller, who recorded the band live in a single room, and the result is a wonderfully immediate album that feels like a Saturday night house party-- complete with moonlight, dust flying from the carpet under the feet of dancers, and crickets and night bird calls out the open windows.
The sound breathes, and the Drops shine.
Traditional pieces like "Po' Black Sheep" become stomping revivals, born again in a new century. "Ruby, Are You Mad at Your Man?" becomes a clawhammer banjo-driven mountain blues, with Rhiannon Giddens' vocal making it seem like Janis Joplin just wandered into the party, a feat she repeats with the album's marvelous last track, "Pretty Bird" (complete with crickets in the background).
The Carolina Chocolate Drops may be intent on reproducing a sound from over a century ago, but they do an amazing job of translating it into the 21st century without diminishing it.
This set feels like a Saturday night throw down under the summer stars. It almost seems timeless, perhaps because it defies time. S. Leggett
The Drops were always at their best on-stage, however, where the gospel stomp of those mountain rhythms and the kinetic energy the band gave off completed the feel of a living, breathing history lesson.
Those old string bands could turn on a dime, and the Chocolate Drops reproduced that art, turning their live sets into a black string band revival show. The studio albums felt like they were a bit encased in glass compared to the live performances.
For this outing, however, the Chocolate Drops found the perfect producer in Buddy Miller, who recorded the band live in a single room, and the result is a wonderfully immediate album that feels like a Saturday night house party-- complete with moonlight, dust flying from the carpet under the feet of dancers, and crickets and night bird calls out the open windows.
The sound breathes, and the Drops shine.
Traditional pieces like "Po' Black Sheep" become stomping revivals, born again in a new century. "Ruby, Are You Mad at Your Man?" becomes a clawhammer banjo-driven mountain blues, with Rhiannon Giddens' vocal making it seem like Janis Joplin just wandered into the party, a feat she repeats with the album's marvelous last track, "Pretty Bird" (complete with crickets in the background).
The Carolina Chocolate Drops may be intent on reproducing a sound from over a century ago, but they do an amazing job of translating it into the 21st century without diminishing it.
This set feels like a Saturday night throw down under the summer stars. It almost seems timeless, perhaps because it defies time. S. Leggett
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Genuine downhome bluegrass from this talented trio occasionally augmented by female cellist. Rhiannon especially has a wonderful voice and picks a mean banjo.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolute brilliant music
Absolute brilliant music that brings to life a rich history of traditional African American and American folk Music right up to date . Outstanding performances from all. Read more
Published 2 months ago by William McDonald
4.0 out of 5 stars
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Heard tracks on Bob Harris Country R2 and resolved to purchase. Not as amazing as I thought it would be, but enjoyable nevertheless.
Published 3 months ago by Rachel Helen Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Did'nt know what to expect from this band, but from what I have heard from this cd you will not be disappointed. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Wayno
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommended
What a marvellous band! This is what music is all about. So full of energy & fun. Rhiannon Giddens & Dom Flemons are musicians of great integrity. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Cason
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful music
Amazing stuff. Check them out on youtube first. This weeks favourite in the car is 'Ruby, are you mad at your man?".
Published 10 months ago by Neil Preston
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
This music is a wonderful example of great young musicians being able to respect the roots of traditional music yet give it a uniquely modern twist. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Don Spence
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Band
I was curious about the band having seen the name in several places online and heard mutterings about them so I bought this CD to find out for myself and was knocked out by it. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Michael E. Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just Sweet
This album is abundant with quality and charm. In a time so full of manufactured bands it is refreshing to hear a band that can really sing and play. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. R. C. Neil
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