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The first Doobie Brothers album for ten years is a time capsule from the Nixon/Ford era. Working again with Ted Templeman, who produced their golden age of hits and West Coast anthems, they deliver a textbook set of what their borderline-superannuated fans want. Ageism is not cool, kids, but a glance at the accompanying retrospective DVD shows a lighting crew working ridiculously hard to veil the fact that the Doobies are now, shall we say, weathered. (Saga would consider them unsuitable cover stars.) It’d be absurd for them to discover a new dubstep/grime direction, so this is hoary bearded vintage boogie for people who found Lynyrd Skynyrd a little too experimental.
Without a USP, the Californians – not brothers – cleaned up in the Almost Famous world; all flares, whiskers and no pretention. Songs like Long Train Runnin’ and Listen to the Music laced their country-rock with an enjoyable dash of funk; later, they appropriated Michael McDonald and rode a second wind with the soulful What a Fool Believes. McDonald guests on one track here, as does Willie Nelson. It’s as close, in essence, to a greatest hits album as you can get while not being one. Every song is sufficiently similar to their canon to give their people a rush of recognition. Electric and acoustic guitars play off each other, harmonies are honed; everything is so relaxed it makes the Eagles or Fleetwood Mac sound like F***** Up.
Lead single Nobody is actually a re-recording of a flop off their 1971 debut. It’s a decent groove, albeit one you can envision Jeremy Clarkson shaking his jeans to. A Brighter Day essays a reggae-soul lilt, while Chateau, ZZ Top-lite, turns the amps up to a risqué eight. The title-track has these millionaires bemoaning "tryin’ to make my monthly rent". It’s a slick production, though the ill-conceived Young Man’s Game brags of "30 long years bringin’ people rock’n’roll" and disses "those rock’n’roll critics talkin’ yak yak yak". Dudes, it’s 40 years, and the critics forgot you half that time ago.
In the Doobies’ heads, and on this album, it’s forever California 1974.
--Chris RobertsFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Ten years on from their last album, the Doobie Brothers turn full circle and reunite with their original producer Ted Templeman who was at the helm for all their famous hits in the 1970s and early eighties. It's an inspired move.
Sounding unmistakeably like the Doobies of old but at the same time notably flexing their muscles in fresh musical directions, "World Gone Crazy" is the work of a band showing few discernible signs of ageing despite a career spanning a remarkable forty years.
"Nobody" is a muscular reworking of the band's first ever single; this time you can hear the rhythm section. "Old Juarez" sounds like something Carlos Santana might have dashed off back in the days before he became satisfied with simply being a guest on his own albums, while Willie Nelson duets on "I Know We Won", one of several touching Pat Simmons ballads on offer. Tom Johnston delves deep into the blues for "Law Dogs" and "New York Dream" and, heavens, were those really Caribbean rhythms on the gospel-flavoured "A Brighter Day"?
The band's most successful period coincided with the arrival of Michael McDonald in the mid-seventies, leading to a succession of outstanding albums spawning some of their biggest hits, commencing with 1976's "Takin' It To The Streets" and continuing through 1980's "One Step Closer". McDonald's rollicking piano style and unmistakeably soulful vocals took the band in an altogether jazzier, R&B, direction, away from its country rock origins. And although, following an extended and enforced absence through illness, the returning Johnston led the reformed Doobies back whence they came, there are distinct traces of the McDonald era in evidence here, such as the rousing piano flourishes on the title track. And then, what do you know, the great man himself turns up to add vocals on Simmons' jazzy but understated "Don't Say Goodbye", one of the strongest cuts on this new record.
With the songwriting burden now resting squarely on Simmons' and Johnston's shoulders, despite the overall strength of the material I did still find myself missing the extra variety provided by the occasional contributions of other band members, most recently the sadly-deceased Keith Knudsen. But it's not a major flaw and on the whole Templeman helps ensure that, as always, the band's quality-control threshold remains high.
The Doobies back on top form, and a bonus DVD too. Who could ask for more?
Sounding unmistakeably like the Doobies of old but at the same time notably flexing their muscles in fresh musical directions, "World Gone Crazy" is the work of a band showing few discernible signs of ageing despite a career spanning a remarkable forty years.
"Nobody" is a muscular reworking of the band's first ever single; this time you can hear the rhythm section. "Old Juarez" sounds like something Carlos Santana might have dashed off back in the days before he became satisfied with simply being a guest on his own albums, while Willie Nelson duets on "I Know We Won", one of several touching Pat Simmons ballads on offer. Tom Johnston delves deep into the blues for "Law Dogs" and "New York Dream" and, heavens, were those really Caribbean rhythms on the gospel-flavoured "A Brighter Day"?
The band's most successful period coincided with the arrival of Michael McDonald in the mid-seventies, leading to a succession of outstanding albums spawning some of their biggest hits, commencing with 1976's "Takin' It To The Streets" and continuing through 1980's "One Step Closer". McDonald's rollicking piano style and unmistakeably soulful vocals took the band in an altogether jazzier, R&B, direction, away from its country rock origins. And although, following an extended and enforced absence through illness, the returning Johnston led the reformed Doobies back whence they came, there are distinct traces of the McDonald era in evidence here, such as the rousing piano flourishes on the title track. And then, what do you know, the great man himself turns up to add vocals on Simmons' jazzy but understated "Don't Say Goodbye", one of the strongest cuts on this new record.
With the songwriting burden now resting squarely on Simmons' and Johnston's shoulders, despite the overall strength of the material I did still find myself missing the extra variety provided by the occasional contributions of other band members, most recently the sadly-deceased Keith Knudsen. But it's not a major flaw and on the whole Templeman helps ensure that, as always, the band's quality-control threshold remains high.
The Doobies back on top form, and a bonus DVD too. Who could ask for more?
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A total surprise. Can't think of many other bands who could produce a great album like this 40 years on! Pretty faultless, not a weak spot here and Michael Mcdonald kept to the minimum! Gotta be one of the albums of the year.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
What a great album, it sounds so fresh and alive. I have been a Doobies fan for a looong time and this is really excellent. No I'm not somebody who raves about albums just because I always liked an artist/band. I agree with the Santana comment on the other review. He needs another Caravanserai. Anyway back to the Doobies. Great songs, great playing and a DVD too. This will stay by my Cd player for a long while before being filed with the rest of the back catalogue. Just buy it!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Return to form
I fell out of love with the DBs after Michael McDonald jumped on board and took them away on the Soul Train. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sharky
Return to Form
At last, a Doobies CD that knows where it's going. The songs are superb and performances beyond reproach. Recommended for all those Doobie Brother fans out there.
Published 11 months ago by diesel
70's flashback
The Doobies were the epitome of the free wheeling West Coast sound of the 70's, and this is their first album for 10 years.
It was certainly worth the wait. Read more
It was certainly worth the wait. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. Chris Pearson
Real Music
So nice to hear some real music again, along with great voices. Music you can listen to any where anytime.
Published 17 months ago by Ginger Nut
Leicester Bangs Review (2010):
Doobie Brothers - World Gone Crazy (Eagle)
It's like punk never happened. The Doobies started out as a serious Californian rock outfit, with plenty of great tunes custom built... Read more
It's like punk never happened. The Doobies started out as a serious Californian rock outfit, with plenty of great tunes custom built... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Leicester Bangs
Just Love This Album!!!!
Well done the Doobie's I Just love this album, plenty of catchy tunes and melodies, makes a change from so many highly anticipated and much hyped newly released albums, from new... Read more
Published 17 months ago by K. Buxton
Just like the old days - GREAT album
I have been a fan of this band since the 70's but was not too keen in the later years but this new album "World gone crazy" takes me back to the great times of old. Read more
Published 18 months ago by P. J. Roberts
doobies back on form
world gone crazy show,s the doobie brothers back at their very best,great riffs great songs,catch them live if you can..... Read more
Published 18 months ago by doobieman
world gone crazy
OK, so I am a Doobie fan,but this is a great CD. After ten years since the last CD I was a little worried that it might not be quite what I had hoped for. Read more
Published 18 months ago by BARRY WHITLEY
Doobies do it again
I bought Sibling Rivalry a few months ago when I bought tickets for their gig at Hammersmith. That was the first Doobies album I had bought since One step closer and I thought that... Read more
Published 18 months ago by J. V. Ingarfield
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