Having survived cancer Sharon Jones returns with her Dap Kings band and releases their fifth (sixth, if you count the “Soul Time” compilation that collected non album tracks) studio lp of authentic retro sounding soul, funk and r & b.
Overall the album continues to adhere to Sharon & the Dap’s formula of recreating the golden age of late 1960s soul and early 1970s funk. Recreation? Yeah. Unoriginal? Hell no. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings breathe new life into a classic genre and expand soul music’s history into the 21st century. The record is a legit mix of vintage horns, slinky guitars, funky drums, fun backup vocals and of course Ms. Jones powerful lead pipes. She is easily the best soul singer on the scene today and maybe the best since Queen Aretha’s heyday.
Album opener and first single, “Retreat” has Sharon warning off the players with a commanding lead vocal that also features the Dap Kings in full on burn and groove form. It’s a hell of a way to announce the return of by far the best band currently blowin’ down houses on the corner of Soul Street and Funky Boulevard. You can check out the music video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOYkHjdpdM
“Stranger to My Happiness” sounds like outer space Radiohead for about four and half seconds before the funk gets greasy and a baritone sax brings us back to the soulful earth movin’ and groovin’. “We Get Along” sports one of those horn riffs that instantly catches the ear as Sharon sings about pushing through life’s “sorrows and strifes.” “Making Up and Breaking Up” and “Get Up and Get Out” have some of the most authentic girl group harmonizing that has ever shown up on a Sharon Jones lp, sounding like Aretha Franklin backed up by the Shirelles.
Always one to look out for the underdog, Sharon sings about the lazy rich and the hard working poor on “People Don’t Get What They Deserve.” It’s a great performance from the entire band as Jones observes that “money don’t follow sweat, money don’t follow brains, money don’t follow deeds…”
“Slow Down Love” ends the party with a classic lights up, last dance soul ballad. Sharon’s gentle vocals are complimented by the Dap Kings slow sway and pleasantly repetitive horns.
While the group doesn’t break any new ground with “Give the People What They Want,” they don’t need to. Just as the title implies this is the music Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings fans want. The Dap Kings are great players and their chops are on full display throughout; but it is that voice that keeps the people coming back.
While the album is very good, it didn’t instantly grab my affections on its first spin the way previous SJ & DK albums have. With that I rate the album as near great with 3 ½ burning coals of soul.
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