“Knockdown South” rages with the juke joint boogie, honky tonk, and nasty gutbucket blues of the Hill Country of Northern Mississippi. The first release of “Knock Down South Records,” Jimbo Mathus and “The Clarksdale Rhythm,” a slew of over a dozen musicians that sound like they’ve played together for years, cover a vast arena of musical inspirations. His “Loose Diamonds” even has a lowdown soul horn section that is the perfect embellishment to his passionate lyrics.
Probably best known as co-founder and leader of the “Squirrel Nut Zippers,” as well as the second guitar for Buddy Guy’s Grammy nominated “Sweet Tea,” he also went on Buddy’s national tour promoting the album and earned the respect of thousands of blues lovers and musician everywhere. At the same time, he opened “Delta Recording Service,” and has recorded dozens of artists from Elvis Costello’s “Monkey to Man,” to Chris Cotton’s “I Watched the Devil Die.” He also played on and was an assistant engineer of “Jessie Mae Hemphill & Friends, Dare You To Do It Again.” The endless list of his accomplishments goes on and on.
“Knockdown South” embarks with “Crazy Bout You,” with a style and lead guitar sound so reminiscent of Jr. Kimbrough, you’d swear he was actually playing the guitar. Several times you hear someone say, “work,” in the background that reinforces the influence of Jr. “Hypmotized,” (sic) starts off with a haunting guitar riff and proceeds with a beat that could easily back a hip-hop song though the real quality of the song is tied up in the expressive lyrics. Together, they create a unique and seamless entity.
“Let Me Be Your Rocker,” (“Honey, till your straight chair comes.”) is in the stylistic vein of an old rock and roll or hopped up blues classic that is cookin’ with gas, the groove laid down even has touches of alt country via a pedal steel guitar. “Boogie Music,” is a variation of a boogie groove that is as nasty as you’re going to hear. As he says, “It’s good for the soul.”
“Skateland Baby,” is either a rock song with an alt country sound or an alt country song with a rock semblance. The loose harmonies harkens back to “The Band,” or an older “Rolling Stones” song. It’s all good. “Mule Plow Line,” begins with a nasty guitar lick, and the lyrics are gutsy and lowdown. The lead guitar, seemingly on the edge of being “wrong,” creates a tension that is “right.” It’s one tough, nasty song.
“Loose Diamonds,” is an excellent example of his creative lyrical and musical talents. Soulful vocals are augmented by the inclusion of a spot-on soul based horn section. It’s a song I could easily hear Otis Redding sing. “Be That Way,” has a dirty swampy groove. The rhythm is just plain ornery, which is a perfect supplement to the angry lyrics. “State Line Women,” with his slide guitar, gas up another mean boogie while “Rolling Like a Log,” with its rhythmic organ and slide guitar show another side of Jimbo with the feel of a vicious, raunchy Allman Brothers or NMAS tune with a harder edge.
“Loving Arms,” is pure honky tonk with the moving lyrics of someone who’s been there and done that. The album ends with “Asked My Captain,” a fierce old school solo blues about his time spent “detained” on an abandoned steam ship run by a couple of hard nosed and judgmental…uhhhh…gentlemen. His caustic lyrics and angry guitar snaps at the indignation of their conditions.
“Knockdown South,” is a gritty tour de force. There isn’t a stinker in the bunch. As unlikely as it sounds, the eclectic variation of songs seamlessly fit together. The album is pure Mississippi magic. Whether you like your blues lowdown, mean, and nasty, or laid back and in the pocket, you’ll love this album. It’s raw, ruthless, and tough… dangerous even. Musically and lyrically, Jimbo Mathus and “The Clarksdale Rhythm,” serve up the real deal. This album is bad to the bone.
Knock Down South Records, Delta Recording Service, 257 Yazoo St. Clarksdale. MS. 38614
Phone: 662-624-6189
Web: www.knockdownsouthrecords.com
www.jamesmathus.com 930 Lynn Ave. Clarksdale, MS 38614
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