PRESS

“The Road to Memphis” Press Quotes

“This is an amazing album.”
– LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON

“…Tight urgency that is the foundation of the entire album, driving the funky guitar and bass lines through a brilliant reinvention of the M.G.’s soul chemistry, ramped up for the 21st century.” – MOJO

“After all these years, he remains so soulful, and so good.” – NPR

“A showcase for Jones’ ever-sinuous way around his Hammond B-3, which sings, purrs, moans and shouts with often near-human expressivity, under his skilled touch.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Transports listeners to the ’60s heyday of Stax, where [Jones] and the MGs defined soul music.” – USA TODAY

“Joyous a satisfying return to Booker T.’s classic instrumental soul and funk.” – BOSTON GLOBE

“The Road From Memphis shifts to funk and R&B, with Philly’s own the Roots as his backing band. It’s a perfect pairing stellar.” – PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

“The funk here is deep and solid. The punishingly unpredictable twists and turns all manage to punch your gut with a groove.” – PASTE MAGAZINE

“Potato Hole” Praise

“Booker T. Jones sounds more pithy and forceful than ever on “Potato Hole”…Mr. Jones still jabs terse, unhurried melodies that sound as if he knows the lyrics but would never tell. Where the M.G.’s suavely underplayed their aggression, the rockers’ multiple-guitar attack, with distortion and feedback, gives the music teeth.” – Jon Pareles. New York Times

“A bad ass set of MG’s-style instrumentals. Jones’ sweet, thick Hammond B-3 riffs are spiked with Truckers’ roughneck (and surprisingly funky) Southern rock and some exceptional lyrical, focused Young guitar leads. The originals feel like old standards. But the cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” is a zinger: It’s Southern race-mixing party music come full circle.” – Rolling Stone

READ MORE PRAISE FOR “POTATO HOLE”, CLICK HERE

Booker T. and the DBTs
Booker T. Jones, best known for his work in the ’60s as an organist with Booker T. & the MGs, chose a seemingly unlikely source of inspiration for his new album, “Potato Hole” (Anti): the growling sound of Neil Young’s favorite Les Paul guitar through his Fender Tweed Deluxe amplifier…

READ FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE
MAY 6, 2009 – By JIM FUSILLI – THE WALL STREET JOURNAL