© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2007

JJ Grey & MOFRO
Country Ghetto
Alligator ALCD 4914

Continuing the transition that began with last year’s Lee Rocker and Eric Lindell releases, Alligator delivers its third non-straight-up blues CD. I rarely listen to anything except blues and roots. Based on hearing this relevant and fashionable disc, I have renewed interest in the music of today’s youth.

Grey, a multi-instrumentalist, and his three band mates create unique contemporary hillbilly music that comes with a contemporary message. Phlegm makes his vocals soulful even if they occasionally sound like Jonny Lang. Grey knows how to arrange a song so that its story unfolds around you. Overall the music is psychedelically cool and urbane with a touch of ’60s. Grey’s sounds are inspired from all the cool music of the past but it’s made for the future. Damn good relationship advice is offered on "A Woman". "The Sun Is Shining Down" celebrates being able to live life is more important than the life you live. Although his country hill rhythms vary, Grey’s 12 original songs all sound similar to the point where they could meld together into one long 45-minute song. Oddly, this rather appealed to me.

Some die-hard Alligator fans may feel this CD is too radical since it moves away from the music that gave Alligator their Genuine Houserockin’ moniker. If those fans want the legacy of Alligator to thrive and survive, a change has got to come. Surely the white blues/rock of the ’60s was a more extreme departure from blues than JJ Grey. The bigger concern should be whether a non-blues artist can make it on a blues label.

- Tim Holek -


Southwest Blues CD Review - May 2007

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