Al Green - Lay It Down
Sunday, June 1, 2008 1:36
“At this point, if you’re Al Green, messing around with your formula isn’t so much unlikely as it is pure madness; it’d be like AC/DC deciding to add bassoons. Even the highly touted input of the Roots’ ?uestlove (producing with James Poyser, both in place of Green’s longtime go-to Willie Mitchell) results more in decoration than innovation. It’s not the new-blood-fueled revelation some might have hoped for, but who cares. Green’s voice remains lithe magic, and he’s brought in such contemporary all-stars as Anthony Hamilton (on the album’s two best tracks, “You’ve Got the Love I Need” and the slinky title song), John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae for help. ?uestlove’s drums get a little boost in the mix, and Poyser’s B3 lightly brushes each song’s cheeks. But when it comes to Green, what more needs to be said? The reverend preaches on. —Jeff Vrabel”
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