Dr. John has spent so much time turning out perfectly enjoyable but interchangeable records that it may be easy to forget the spooky voodoo vibes of his earliest, arguably best, records. He may have forgotten it himself, too, but there was a whole generation of British musicians, from Modfather
Paul Weller to Spaceman
Jason Pierce to the teenaged punks in
Supergrass, who remembered the haunted vibe lurking in
Gumbo and
Gris-Gris. Citing his name in interviews, covering his songs, and enlisting him as a session musician (
Mr. Rebennack played on
Spiritualized's acclaimed 1997 album,
Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space), they created a buzz around
Dr. John and were more than willing to play on
Anutha Zone, hopefully generating some sales for him in return. As should be expected from any project that is a marketer's dream, the collaborations occasionally seem awkward, but what is surprising is how often it works.
Pierce helps
Rebennack conjure the psychedelic R&B of his earlier albums, while
Weller and
Supergrass help keep things cooking; furthermore, members of
Primal Scream and
Portishead help make "Sweet Home New Orleans" a titanic workout. The Brits aren't as funky as the classic New Orleans musicians, but they are willing to push
Dr. John into his best work in years.
Anutha Zone isn't a perfect album by any means, but it's
Rebennack's most ambitious and rewarding album in many a year. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine