JD McPHERSON - LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

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1. Let The Good Times Roll   2. Bossy   3. It's All Over But The Shouting   4. Bridgebuilder   5. It Shook Me Up   6. Head Over Heels   7. Shy Boy   8. You Must Have Met Little Caroline?   9. Precious   10. Mother Of Lies   11. Everybody's Talking 'Bout The All-American

Rounder Records / 0888072369542

Five years for a new JD McPherson record. Five years since that 2010 tremendous hit that was "Signs & Signifiers". Five years to have this brand new "Let The Good Times Roll".

It's true that just a few months ago we got a limited edition single on Vee-Jay Records (reviewed by yours truly a couple of weeks ago) but it was not enough for us, the fans. We needed more: a complete album.

And here it is, at last.

Welcome.

Before listening to it, I feared JD wasn't able to reach the high quality level of his previous LP, as I believe "Signs & Signifiers" is one of the best records in those 15 years of 21st Century... There is no reason for that fear: "Let The Good Times Roll" is a top record. I don't know if it's as good as the former, maybe it's too soon to say it... But it's a very good record indeed. For sure.

To have top musicians has of course a lot of importance in having such a good work. And the band behind JD McPherson did a wonderful work in these eleven songs. If I'm not wrong, just JD himself (guitar) and the great Jimmy Sutton (slap-bass and electric bass) remain from the previous record, but the level of the rest of musicians has to be higlighted as well. Note that when I've mentioned Jimmy Sutton I've written down that he plays slap-bass and electric bass... and that's because in some of the songs he takes the electric bass. Nothing wrong in it: just a little bit "curious" as we're used to see him with the big ol' slap-bass.

The record starts full-throttle with "Let The Good Times Roll": a song that in a world of musical justice and good taste would be a hit for its own rights. From that point on, we may have preference for different songs. It depends on each one, of course, but I would like to highlight "Bossy", "It's All Over But The Shouting", "Shook Me Up", the relaxing "Precious" and "Everybody's Talking 'Bout The All-American", dedicated to the memory of that great Rock'n'Roller that was Nick Curran. I've highlighted half of the songs!... Please believe me: it's a very good record.

About style, it can be said that the Oklahoma singer remains true to his own way of Rocking: an almost hypnotic rhythm which is made of a blend of Rhythm'n'Blues, Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly that gave him such a big success with his previous record. We already found that hypnotic rhythm in "Signs & Signifiers" (do you remember "North Side Gal" for instance?) and we get it in this new album as well: listen to "Let The Good Times Roll" or "Precious" and you'll see what I mean.

Besides all that musical goodness, there is also a beautiful artwork for the booklet, with full-marks specially for the cover: "Weapons Ans Physiognomy Of The Grizzly Bear" is the title of the 19th Century painting.

Time to finish this review, ladies and gentlemen. Let me just insist one more time in saying that this is a very, very good record and that you'll do yourself a favour if you run to your favourite record shop and buy it.

Come on, let the good times roll!

Wonderful artwork for this record.