Genuine Negro Jig CD Review
February 24, 2010.

Label: Nonesuch Records
Genuine Negro Jig
Carolina Chocolate Drops

www.carolinachocolatedrops.com
www.myspace.com/carolinachocolatedrops


by Aaron Binder


Harkening back to ‘the good ol’ days’ means a great number of things to a great number of people. Musically speaking, it could be The Beatles, Faith No More or Led Zeppelin. For an increasingly smaller number of people it is the jug and fiddle styling of 1920’s and 30’s southern black folk-music. While many artists have been influenced by this type of music, few have tried to re-create it. That is where the Carolina Chocolate Drops newest album Genuine Negro Jig comes in attempting not just re-creation but re-invention. One of the first noticeable items about the album is the quality. Usually when you’re listening to classic folk music there is only mono sound. CCD recorded this album in a professional studio and even though some people may miss the scratchiness of old recordings, it is great to hear folk-rock in full audio glory. The music may not be overly complex, but it is easy to listen to and the recording quality adds an extra dimension to the experience.


The band is at their best when they are firing off heated instrumentals. They have the ability to evoke deep-rooted feelings and emotions with a number of sultry and enticing passages. Vocalist Rhiannon Giddens’ voice has the same effect as she saunters through the album. If you close your eyes you can almost feel a hand running across your shoulders as her voice dances reflectively through your ear drums. Genuine Negro Jig is a journey through a confusing era and the band has captured the spirit and music perfectly with the vast repertoire of material on the album.