[rating=10.00]
To those who have not yet jumped on the high-speed train that JD McPherson is driving, don’t waste one more minute. We were pretty certain he was a force to be reckoned with after 2012’s Signs and Signifiers, but with his new record Let the Good Times Roll, there’s no question. A modern soul singer with a rich vocal range and a propensity for up-tempo boogie, McPherson is no doubt going to end up on every best-of list come December 2015.
Let the Good Times Roll starts off strong with the title track, a rollicking, over-before-you-know-it bolt of electricity that knocks you on your ass and then leaves you in a wake of dust. McPherson has mastered a nostalgic, throwback sound that also manages to sound fresh and new. The instrumentals on Let the Good Times Roll include sharp, warm punctuations of horns, subtle piano melodies and a plethora of diverse percussion. He takes elements of the good old stuff and blends them with contemporary coolness, and it never feels forced or overwrought. That vintage thing comes naturally to him, a rarity in a sometimes overtly referential period in music.
After sassy, sped-up tunes like “Bossy” and “All Over”, McPherson stuns with the slow, sultry jukebox gold of “Bridge Builder”. His vocals hit a sweet spot, especially the high notes which will have you swooning and swaying. “Bridge Builder” is both painful and romantic at the same time, but never cheesy or sappy. Just all class. And when it suddenly picks up and moves more quickly, it doesn’t leave us behind. It sweeps us up with gusto, and takes us along for the ride.
It’s hard to say when McPherson is at his best because he can truly do it all. His theatrical growl on “It Shook Me Up” will do much more than shake you up. It will have you shaking your ass and twisting all over the dance floor. “Head Over Heels” is easily the most powerful tune on Good Times, with its steady, driving beat and McPherson’s uninhibited howl. The backing harmonies add a bluesy element to this track and make it even more difficult to get this one out of your head. Then again, you won’t want it to go anywhere.
Good Times finds McPherson going full-on soul with his sound, and moving further away from the rockabilly vibe of his last record. While both suit him, his vocals tend more toward soul and R&B singing, and it’s thrilling to see him fully embrace that. You’ll be so grateful for this transition when you hear “Precious”, the most impressive vocal display on the record. It’s McPherson, no holds barred, letting his silken voice shine the way it so deserves.
Cover photo: Jim Herrington
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