Reviews
Andre Williams new LP “Hoods and Shades” kills
Some times there isn’t any point in reviewing an album. Like when the cover art describes the music to a “t”. Andre Williams, “The Black Godfather”, lays down what the perfect Blaxploitation soundtrack to a movie that doesn’t exist.
Hoods and Shades is the result, nine songs created by music roadmen led by THE music roadman. Making contributions are: renowned Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was on upright bass, Motown legend/Funk Brother Dennis Coffey on acoustic and electric guitars, Dirty Three drummer Jim White, Greasy Carlisi (Robert Gordon, Chris Spedding) and Jim Diamond (Dirtbombs) on electric bass, and longtime producer Matthew Smith (Nathaniel Mayer, Outrageous Cherry, Volebeats).
Hoods and Shades saunters like a millionaire pimp. The sounds are sexy and seductive, but it’s not sleazy like 1998′s over the top Silky. Andre’s not trying to pick up ladies in this album, he doesn’t need to, they’ll come to him. Hoods and Shades is the most attractive person in the room and it knows it. Andre Williams is at the peak of his 50+ year career. That’s a lot for a man who used to produce tracks with Ike Turner, wrote “Shake a Tail Feather”, was signed to Detroit’s Fortune Records in ’55… but I’m not his biographer. You can watch the recent documentary about the rise and fall of Andre Williams “Agile, Mobile, Hostile: A Year with Andre Williams” for free on Hulu or read more about him at Bloodshot Records page.
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The album is released to stores February 28th,PREORDER
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