"Tired of all this beat head bizniz? The look no further than The Blind Boys Of Alabama. These old boys first got together in 1939 and here find themselves accompanied by multi instrumentalist David Lindley, don blues guitarist John Hammond, contra bassist Danny Thompson and harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite. Beautifully recorded, prepare to be dropped down in America's deep south, on some dusty road or a small wooden church where you'll find yourself testifying that "you're a soldier in the army of the Lord!". Top tune has to be 'Amazing Grace' set to the tune of 'House of The Rising Sun'. Out there." Straight No Chaser.
'Six decades on, gospel group still knows how to find inspiration...At this point, some sixty years on, it would be reasonable to expect the legendary gospel singing group the Blind Boys of Alabama to simply stick to its repertoire of prayer-meeting hymns and settle into career-twilight glory. These strident voices have earned their rest. But the transfixing, beautifully recorded Spirit of the Century, which situates gospel and rock-era songs in a drawling blues atmosphere, challenges the Blind Boys to wade into less-familiar waters. Of course, they work magic: There's a
neopsychedelic "Amazing Grace" set to the chord sequence of "House of the Rising Sun," a romp through Tom Waits' "Jesus Gonna Be Here" invigorated by Blind Boys founder Clarence Fountain's controlled fury and a beautifully harmonized rendering of Ben Harper's "Give a Man a Home." Though the themes don't all come straight from Sunday school, the Blind Boys summon the evangelical spirit of a crusade in progress, capturing the feeling not just of the revival tent but of the dark, human swampland lurking just beyond it.'
'Highly recommended, even for my fellow agnostics.'
Press review from: The Leo (USA)
'If ever there were a record that could make a sinner dance and sing to the praises of the gospel, this is it.'
Press review from: Aspen Daily News (USA)
'...a gem of a gospel album good for Saturday nights, as well as Sunday mornings.'
Press review from: Dirty Linen (USA)
'All Christian artists should strive for this kind of magical transcendence-of course, how many could realistically survive eight decades?'
Press review from: Youth Worker (USA)
'Chelew's insistence on abandoning the currently popular multi-track vocal studio session in favour of a "c'mon let's gather round the mic and record this song" approach, pays off big-time, as the sonic atmosphere from start to finish is so real as to fully immerse you in it all.'
Press review from: Gospelflava.com (USA)
'...It truly is rich in terms of its range of emotional expression, the likes of which is rarely heard today... I doubt if you'll hear a more perfect record all year. Truly wonderful!'
Press review from: Blues & Soul (UK)
'This truly is a joy to behold and a must for music lovers everywhere'
Press review from: Muzik (UK)
'A lifetime of experience shows!'
Press review from: Unity (UK)
'Old folks they may be, but this blues vibed bunch of septuagenarians sure do know how to rinse a song, be it some good ole gospel, or an uplifting contemporary song by Ben Harper'
Press review from: Whassup (UK)
'If you've ever wondered what inspired James Brown, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and other secular stars, the gospel singer Fountain will show you the source.'
Press review from: New Yorker (USA)
'...one of the most famous and celebrated gospel groups in the world.'
Press review from: Los Angeles Times (USA)
'...their talent still holds a carrot far above the heads of today's pop harmony boy bands.'
Press review from: Village Voice (USA)
'The Blind Boys of Alabama have created an album that is indeed both deeply spiritual and musically groundbreaking...There must have been instant chemistry between this motley crew of musicians because the results are stunning.'
Press review from: Offbeat (USA)
'...these gospel elders have found the fountain of youth.'
Press review from: Entertainment Weekly (USA)
'...the Boys sing with a passion and spirit that will make even nonbelievers say hallelujah.'
Press review from: People Weekly (USA)
'...their latest outing finds them breaking down the barriers of gospel, blues and soul, and delivering a world view.'
Press review from: Revrecord Collector ()
'...the Blind Boys are the stars of this disc, with their guests adding tasteful touches of blues and soul.'
Press review from: Cmj ()
'For listeners who find the formal severity of quartet singing a little hard to take, Spirit Of The Century should be refreshingly accessible, fitted out as it is with instrumental settings...that are both piquant and ingenious.'
Press review from: Mojo (UK)
'It's rare to find music so authentic, so meaningful and so full of gusto. Long may the Blind Boys continue to enthrall.'
Press review from: Www.revolutionsuk.com (UK)
...Clarence Fountain and the guys are living history and they sound it, better you hear them to believe how good they are. Ancient they may be but they certainly are justified.
Press review from: Get Rhythm (UK)
In what could be the "gospel/blues" recording event of the year, the Blind Boys of Alabama -- together since 1939 -- have put together a fabulous new project, stunning in scope and exhilarating in execution. Under the aegis of producer John Chelew (John Hiatt), and with the considerable musical support of aces David Lindley, John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite, and Richard Thompson's rhythm section of Michael Jerome and Danny Thompson, the Blind Boys have created a remarkably contemporary disc pieced together from the most traditional of genres: spiritual, gospel, and blues.
Spirit of the Century simultaneously honors those profound traditions while at the same time striking out on courageous new paths. With Lindley's slide ringing behind them, the Blind Boys cover songs as offbeat as Ben Harper's "Give a Man a Home" and Tom Waits' "Way Down in the Hole," alongside more trad spirituals like "Motherless Child" and "No More." They even turn one of gospel's most revered songs upside down, singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of "House of the Rising Son."
Obviously, this set is designed to reach a wide, secular audience, and it succeeds hands down. It's brilliantly contemporary, with enough spiritual orientation to appeal to a traditional audience, too. In fact, it should have such broad appeal; this could be one gospel disc that'll end up on many year-end "best-of" lists.
Bob Gulla
CDNOW Contributing Writer
Press review from: Cd Now (Web Review)
While contemporary gospel heads off for the uptown cocktail lounge, the spirit of the backwoods revival tent propels the Blind Boys of Alabama. Clarence Fountain's venerable group represents a decade-old link with the golden age of sanctified music. There is talk of this record doing for gospel what the Buena Vista Social Club did for Cuba. A shade excessive maybe, but the raw, impassioned vocals are light years away from the usual crossover pap. The R&B backing from guests including John Hammond and Charlie Musselwhite plays it straight down the middle, but the brisk interplay on Run On suggests that Fountain and co could still hold their own among modern-day rappers if it ever came to a street-corner contest.
Press review from: The Sunday Times (UK)
No,not another ironic indie band, but a bunch of gospel singers who formed in 1939 while they were students at the Talladega Institute for the Blind, Alabama. Consequently, we can safely say that this will stir your soul more than the last Gomez LP did.
Press review from: I-d (UK)
Terrific gospel set that nods in the direction of both The Rolling Stones (Just Wanna See His Face) and Moby (Run On). Saw them a couple of years ago, rocking WOMAD. 'Everybody stand up,' said Clarence Fountain, and some people did. 'I can't see you! Everybody stand up.' Shamefaced, suddenly everyone was up.' D'oh.
Press review from: Time Out (UK)
...The playing is sympathetic and the singing heavenly: huge, ageless voices, oozing warmth. The boys are reputed to have been together for 62 years, and when you hear their harmonies, you believe it.
Press review from: The Mail On Sunday (UK)
...these American gospel blues veterans are receiving some deserved attention and this album, which includes covers of songs by Tom Waits, Ben Harper and the Stones, seems tailored to eke out some crossover appeal.
Press review from: The Information (UK)
Tired of all this beat head bizniz? Then look no further than the Blind Boys of Alabama. Beautifully recorded, prepare to be dropped down in America's deep south, on some dusty road or in a small wooden church where you'll find yourself testifying that "you're a soldier in the army of the Lord!" Out there.
Press review from: Straight No Chaser (UK)
...For listeners who find the formal severity of quartet singing a little hard to take, 'Spirit of the Century' should be refreshingly accessible, fitted out as it is with instrumental settings...that are both piquant and ingenious. 'Amazing Grace' is set to the tune of 'House of the Rising Sun', the slide guitar on 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' echoes Blind Willie Johnson, and guitars, string bass and oud leap like lambs in 'Soldier'. Three songs by Tom Waits are seamlessly woven into the bright, warm fabric of this affecting album.
Press review from: Mojo (UK)
An institution since their 1950s heyday, the Blind Boys are a living testament that the gospel tradition isn't there just to keep Moby in samples for car adverts...this is a lovely, late flower of an album. There are classy backing players...but it is the old-time vocal harmonies that raise the goose-bumps, nowhere more than when they close with the thought, 'This may be the last time we moan together'. Lord forbid.
Press review from: The Observer (UK)
...It's a marvellous album, one which defies the old division between gospel and the "devil's music" by framing the group's vocals on gospel standards like 'Motherless Child' and 'Amazing Grace'...in sympathetic settings created by a house band of blues and jazz stylists...In so doing, the music is effectively re-connected with its Southern rural roots, whilst the gnarled tones of Clarence Fountain, George Scott and Jimmy Carter, in particluar, receive the sensitive treatment appropriate to their venerable status. Highly recommended.
Press review from: The Independent (UK)
Spirit of the Century utilizes an authentically rustic backdrop by employing bluesmen John Hammond and Charlie Musselwhite, and when Fountain's gruff lead blends with the smoother tones of Jimmy Carter and George Scott on Give A Man A Home, the result is powerful enough to give Karl Marx religion. The bizarre Amazing Grace set against what sounds like the melody of The House Of The Rising Sun is a mismatch, but an inspired version of The Rolling Stones' Just Wanna See His Face deserves a place on many year-end compilation tapes.
Press review from: Q Magazine (UK)
...it's their own distinct sound that still has the hairs rising on the back of your neck. The music, described by the band's leader and founder, Clarence Fountain as "our old-time style," harks back to their origins, mixing gospel classics with contemporary songs. You can imagine Moby sampling the album furiously, but it's best in it's untouched, rawest state. Spread the word.
Press review from: Wanderlust (UK)
The Blind Boys formed in 1939 and this album features musicians such as Danny Thompson, John Hammond and the legendary Charlie Musselwhite. A mixture of traditional and contemporary, and with songwriting contributions from the likes of Tom Waits and Ben Harper, this is a warm and beautiful album.
Press review from: Music Week (UK)
Sung with an intensity that will leave an indelible mark on you, the Blind Boys bring a power borne partly of relevance...and also from a passion that others should have their good fortune. A quite wonderful album.
Press review from: Revolutions (UK)
Untold Things
Peoples Colony No 1
