how do I let a good man down

holy cow I cannot stop listening to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' new album, Naturally out now on Daptone. This is the real deal. Other blogs have blathered about it, but so what- its just that damn good! This is not nu-soul. If you dig the classic soul / r&b / funk you will love this. And they are on tour! I think I might have to make the trek to Chicago to experience the 9-piece awesomeness. here are some great and accurate words of description:

In a desert of computerized over-produced faux-R&B, "Naturally" is a cool glass of water for anyone thirsty for Real Soul and Funk Music.  On this, their sophomore release on Brooklyn’s own independent Daptone Records, they have succeeded in transcending the boundaries of time to bring us face to face with the naked body of vintage Soul.

From the first track, a funk-infused shuffle, the Dap-Kings carve a deep and heavy groove which only gets deeper and heavier as the needle cuts further into the flesh of the album.  Through ten solid tracks, ‘Naturally’ explores the many moods and tempos of a group that is quickly earning a reputation as one of the hottest live acts across the nation, stretching their versatility to map out the full panorama of the idiom in which they so effortlessly reside.  They are able to bring us back to 1970 not with the usual bell-bottomed conventions and wah-wah clichés employed by so many retro-funk wannabe’s, but by reaching back to the original source of all that good music: sincerity, integrity, melody, and an unwavering loyalty to rhythm.

In arrangements punctuated by bold horns and tastefully accented with piano, vibes, and strings, the Dap-Kings road-tight rhythm section expertly frames the skeleton of a classic Soul album, breathing life into a body of songs penned exclusively for Sharon Jones’ unique voice.  In turn, she masterfully and instinctively reaches beyond the basic melodies into her gospel-soaked roots to pour every drop of herself into each note that passes her lips, elevating the music from craft to art.  With every moan she reminds us that before Whitney, Mariah, and Jay-Z, there was Tina, Aretha, and J.B.

Buy Naturally here.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - How Do You Let a Good Man Down
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Natural Born Lover