CD Review
Terrance Simien
"Positively Beadhead"
Tone-Cool Records TCOO 34047-1173-2
by Dave Thomas
|
|
Positively Beadhead is the third album from Terrance Simien, though a 5 track EP was issued last year for the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The album is Terrance's first since 1993, so it is a welcome back to Terrance and his soulful voice. A lot of people compare his voice to Aaron
Neville, but to me his voice is more like Aaron's brother Cyril Neville, though a bit more soulful. Positively Beadhead starts off with a good lively song "All her Lovin," but this is possibly a false trail as the album is not really a dancehall affair, but is a more listenable Zydeco/pop/rock mix with the instrument separation more inclined for radio. The mix used on the album is certainly more to do with a rock album than Zydeco, but that aside, the album is very enjoyable with most of the songs written by Terrance himself. "Paradise" has almost a Caribbean feel to it, as does "500 Miles" which has a steel band effect used in it, while "This old road" and "Grandma's House" tell a nice couple of tales and with some great soulful singing on them.
Terrance also manages to squeeze in a couple of instrumentals showing how well he can play accordion. "La Neville Dance" and "Macque Chocux" being the two instrumentals, which also show off a good band, with a capable drummer in Dowell Davis and there is also some nice licks on the guitar from Wayne Dalcourt, both these instrumentals are great for the dance floor. The only downer for me on the album is yet another version of "Jolie Blonde", though to the bands credit they do manage to inject some life into this to often recorded song. Myself I can't get enough of Terrance's soulful voice and it certainly comes over strong on "Shake your Tambourine," which is a New Orleans tune, done to a very stunning effect.
The high points of this album is the soulful singing of Terrance Simien and also a good production. The songs come over very well, which make this album defiantly one for the collection of any music lover. The listener defiantly hasn't got to be into Zydeco to like this album, but it still is basically a Zydeco album.
This review is copyright © 1999 by Dave Thomas, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
|
|