Prodigal Son, The

Reviewed: 2018-05-09
Genre: General
FCCs: none
Review: Cooder’s first album in 6 years is a masterpiece. It features a mix of Cooder originals and interpretations of songs by Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Roosevelt Graves, the Stanley Brothers and other traditional recordings. According to Cooder, the album offers "a deft commentary on our ailing moral state." Except for track 7, all tracks only feature Cooder on a variety of instruments & his son Joachim on percussion. Occasionally, background singers add extra texture to the songs.
If You Like: Mississippi John Hurt, Taj Mahal, Woody Guthrie
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Stright Street (4:00) - banjo starts> slow song swings to midtempo> slow fade
*2/ Shrinking Man (4:07) – percussion starts> uptempo song> electric guitar solo> quick fade
3/ Gentrification (3:14) – guitar/whistling starts> midtempo song swings uptempo> quick stop
4/ Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right (3:46) – guitar starts> midtempo song with gospel vibe> electric slide guitar solo> slow fade
*5/ The Prodigal Son (4:38) – electric guitar/humming starts> swings uptempo in call & response> slow fade
*6/ Nobody’s Fault But Mine (6:08) – spacey start on slide guitar> slow blues> slide guitar solo> slow fade
*7/ You Must Unload (5:27) – guitar starts> slow song with spiritual vibe> mandolin/violin duet> slow song> long slow fade
*8/ I’ll Be Rested When The Roll Is Called (3:11) – banjo starts> uptempo song> quick fade
9/ Harbor Of Love (5:47) – guitar starts> slow instrumental starts> slow song> gorgeous slide solo> slow fade
10/ Jesus And Woody (5:58) – electric guitar starts> slow song> slow fade
*11/ In His Care (3:39) - mandolin starts> uptempo song> slide solo> song> slow fade