Boom! What was that? Oh, that’s the Carolina Chocolate Drops blowing up the gap between today’s music and African American string band music from the 1930s. String band what now? You know, the kind of music played with banjo, fiddle, jug, harmonica, guitar, snare drum and kazoo that calls the southern Appalachian Mountains home. It’s a mix between blues, jazz, bluegrass, country and ragtime and imported Celtic folk played by three people who not only switch vocal duties but who on top of that trade instruments with the same ease fat British tourists trade underaged Thai hookers.
“Genuine Negro Jig” is made up of equal parts traditionals alongside own work written by this trio who have also included some prime covers. Those covers are Tom Wait’s “Trampled Roses” and a most excellent version of Blu Cantrell’s “Hit ‘Em Up Style” in which they combine traditional music with beatboxing. It’s a song that would feel at home pretty much everywhere and it’s the highlight of a great and highly original album that burns a candle for traditional music… and then sets the whole place on fire.
Score: 8 out of 10
http://www.nonesuch.com
http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com
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