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90Artist: Jimbo MathusAlbum: Band Of StormsLabel: Big Legal Mess RecordsRelease Date: 05/06/2016
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Jimbo MathusBand Of StormsAlbum Reviews | November 21st, 2016
Jimbo Mathus is probably best known forhis work with the Squirrel Nut Zippers, theretro swing band who became a sensationin the 1990s, disbanded and recentlyreunited. But Jimbo has always had hisown thing going on, and has an intriguinglife story that sheds light on his creativepanache.
Born in Oxford, Mississippi, he grew up in amusical household, and became proficientin mandolin by age eight. Later he went onto learn guitar, piano and harmony singing.Jimbo studied philosophy for a while at theUniversity of Mississippi, joined theMerchant Marine as a deckhand andtankerman for the Canal Barge Companyon the Mississippi, Illinois and TennesseeRivers, and later moved to Chapel Hill,North Carolina to study music full time. In the libraries of UNC Chapel Hill, Mathuslearned Latin, studied theater, poetry, First Peoples culture, literature and medievalalchemy, as well as music. It was also there that he met and married KatherineWhalen, with whom he formed the Squirrel Nut Zippers. The group has performed onA Prairie Home Companion, at the second inauguration of Bill Clinton, at the 1996Summer Olympics in Atlanta, on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman,Conan O’Brien and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. They have been awarded gold andplatinum records.
Jimbo has recorded and toured with Buddy Guy, and went on to establish Delta
November 21st, 2016Bucky Pizzarelli’s Pre-Birthday Show
November 21st, 2016Deb RyderNovember 21st, 2016London Jazz Festival
November 21st, 2016E. May’s Vocals Shine on herfolk Single, “Get ’em High,
Recording Service in the abandoned Alcazar Hotel in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippiwhere he has produced hundreds of artists including Elvis Costello. When notperforming with the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Jimbo pursues painting and a different kindof musical mojo. His latest release, Band of Storms, features his own cover art and ninemagical tunes performed with refreshingly ragged swagger.
“Gringo Man” is good time garage soul with a Muscle Shoalsy horn section and gritty,Stonesy riffs. Jimbo wails, “It’s cool! It’s alright. Well we’re gonna rock and roll tonight!”
Mathus let’s it all hang out with “Can’t Get Much Higher,” a loose New Orleans jam thatwould make Professor Longhair proud. “And them women going crazy, every day ofthe night. Woah!” Laissez les bons temps rouler indeed!
A country shuffle begins “Let’s Play With Fire,” which shows thoughtful chordstructures balanced with raw, throaty vocals. The wild side of Jimbo is never far away.
Languid pedal steel drenched in reverb, acoustic guitars and violins create a yearningtone on “Stop Your Crying.” Simple, sincere lyrics state, “Well I saw an eagle flying, onthe hill where my true love lies. Shed a tear from a blood stained eye.”
On “Massive Confusion,” Jimbo almost sounds like the southern heir to Joe Strummerand Paul Westerberg and really lets loose with some phlegmy “Ows!” The effect is as ifyou’ve discovered a long lost garage rock classic on an old jukebox.
With honky-tonk piano, Keith Richards-eque backing vocals, and more pedal steelguitars, Jimbo keeps things loose on the anthemic “Wayward Wind.” Imagine TomWaits sitting in with Gram Parson and the Byrds. If it sounds incongruous, it is; but itworks.
Bluesy slide guitar and boozy beats begin “Slow Down Sun,” as Jimbo sings with theworn and weathered voice of an elder bluesman. “Keep It Together” is gentle,psychedelic country in the vein of Buffalo Springfield with heartfelt sentiment.
“We’re at the end of all time; we’re at the end of all music. Everyday I tell myself, let’skeep it together. So I’m a gonna use my heart. I’m a gonna use my soul. In any waygreat or small; yeah, I’m gonna use it.”
The record closes with a wild mandolin number called “Catahoula” that illustrates theconnection between British folk and bluegrass with more merry yelps.
Band Of Storms is an delightful ramble through the shambolic brilliance of Jimbo’smind. Throw away your road map and enjoy getting lost in these country-friedbackwaters.
-Mike Cobb
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