Music Reviews

August 22, 2007

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The Dynamites
KABOOM!
(Outta Sight Records)

With the resurgence of soul and funk in mainstream music, it appears the Nashville music scene, of all places, is embracing it with the most open of arms. In 2004, the Country Music Hall of Fame opened its major exhibit, 'Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm and Blues, 1945-1970,'� for a 21-month run. This exhibit, it's fair to say, helped pave the way for its revival. The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker is a prime example of some of the groups heeding the call for some pure, unadulterated soul.


Their debut album KABOOM! is a'pardon the pun'explosive blend of smashing cymbals, boogified electric guitar, soulful trumpets and saxophone, and the gospel-driven sound of a Hammond organ. Reminiscent of '60s soul greats such as Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Wilson Pickett, it's the band's own musical stamp that helps it avoid being labeled retro'nostalgic, maybe'�but with good reason. Charles Walker, the group's bold-voiced lead singer, is a veteran of the soul music phenomenon of the 1960s. As leader of Little Charles and the Sidewinders, and recording music on some of the biggest soul labels of the time, including Chess, Champion and Decca, Walker has the skills to lead his soul-brothers to stardom. Founder of The Dynamites, as well as composer, guitarist and producer Bill Elder saw him at a performance promoting the 'Night Train'� exhibit several years ago and knew he was essential for his band.


KABOOM! starts out with the highly danceable instrumental 'Body Snatcher,'� setting the tone for the record. 'Own Thing,'� an arm-raising, Lord-praising, booty-shaking song about the trials of blue-collar work welcomes you into the Church of Funk with the sweet-as-sin organ playing of Tyron Dickerson. 'Can You Feel It'� and 'Come On In'� keep up the tempo with the smashing cymbals of Derek Phillips and the blasting horn section of Chris West, Jonathan Jackson and Jon-Paul Frappier, respectively. 'Way Down South,'� about the Hurricane Katrina disaster, slows it down a bit, with Walker crying out: 'We got hurricanes with beautiful names / 287 years all gone up in flames / now the soul of a nation flooded in tears / half of a city just disappears.'� 'Dig Deeper'� is a slow, swaying, love song that forces you to grab the one you love and slow dance around the living room.


The album's finale, 'Killin' It,'� is a James Brown style romp proclaiming that Charles Walker, with the help of the Dynamites, is making a comeback. With these boys leading the way, the soul revival will convert the hard rockers, the gangsta rappers, the teeny boppers, the American Idols, and all those who have forgotten or have never had the chance to discover what real music is all about.

The Dynamites will be bringing the funk to the 13th Annual Southern Brewer's Festival on Saturday.

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