City That Care Forgot

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Editorial Review:

Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Ani Difranco and Terence Blanchard join Dr. John and the Lower 911 in this musical paean to Dr. John's beloved New Orleans. This powerful new recording features stirring and thought-provoking songs about the post-Katrina crises in the ravaged jewel of the American South, including "City That Care Forgot," "Time for a Change," "Promises, Promises," "We Gettin' There" and many more.

Few protest albums have the percolating groove appeal of Dr. John's City That Care Forgot. If not for lyrics like "the road to the White House, paved with lies" the song "Promises, Promises" would be a typically chipper New Orleans second-line strut. And "You Might Be Surprised" sounds like the kind of horn-and-strings-colored blues that has always been part of the piano giant's repertoire -- until its darker hues come through in the lines "life is a near death experience/Hell is right here on this great big Earth." Hurricane Katrina's devastation of Dr. John's beloved hometown and the following years of neglect sparked these 13 angry songs. The government, insurance companies and developers, and still-lingering institutional racism take a whooping with help from Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Terence Blanchard, Ani DiFranco, and Terrance Simien in cameo appearances. The zenith is a suite -- "Dream Warrior," "Black Gold," "We Getting There" -- whose brooding imagery, funky keyboards, Latin percussion, and dramatic horns recall the great Blaxploitation movie music of the '70s. On the flip side "My People Need a Second Line" speaks to the resilience of New Orleans culture, holding threads of hope bright as the trilling of Dr. John's piano. -- Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Dr. John gets political/stays funky!:

I bought this CD when it was first released & have listened to it many times since. I've listened to a number of the post-Katrina CD's & think this is one of the best. My favorite track is "My People Need a Second Line". Glad to see it was nominated, along with Irma Thomas' Simply Grand, as one the best contemporary blues albums for the 2009 Grammy Awards.

New Orleans:

A taste of New Orleans sound. The sound is still there, while the city may never be the same.

Dr. John is Ill:

I am a big fan of Dr. John. This is not one of his best and I can't even play it again to get familiar enough to enjoy it. Rarely do I dislike a CD so badly that I feel ripped off. This is as close as I want to get. Better luck next time!

UG:

If you relish being depressed as hell, then you will love the lyrics to these dirges disguised as New Orleans romp. The melodies are as good as many of the good Dr's recent offering; however, the mood is soured by deep political rancor that permeates every stanza. This collection was tossed in the waste. To enjoy Dr. John, prior to his (hopefully temporary) sickness, stick with "Anutha Zone".

Tracks:

1. Keep on Goin'
2. Time for a Change - Featuring Eric Clapton
3. Promises, Promises - Featuring Willie Nelson
4. You Might Be Surprised
5. Dream Warrior
6. Black Gold
7. We Gettin' There - Featuring Terence Blanchard
8. Stripped Away - Featuring Eric Clapton
9. Say Whut?
10. My People Need a Second Line Featuring James "12" Andrews and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews
11. Land Grab - Featuring Terence Blanchard
12. City That Care Forgot - Featuring Eric Clapton and Ani DiFranco
13. Save Our Wetlands - Featuring Terrance Simien

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