Booker T. Jones - "Potato Hole"

Booker T. Jones
"Potato Hole"
Anti-Records
Released April 21, 2009

Booker T. is back and he's still funky. But don't expect the Stax soul of "Green Onions" on this legendary organist's first solo album in 30 years.

Don't expect Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn of the MGs either. For "Potato Hole" the Memphis legend is backed by redneck rockers Drive-By Truckers, with the legendary Neil Young, who has used Booker T. and the MG's as his backup band on recent tours, adding distinctive guitar work throughout the disc.

The result is hard-hitting, funky organ jams with Booker T. leading the Truckers through seven originals plus two off-the-wall covers, Outkast's "Hey Ya" and Tom Waits's "Get Behind the Mule." If it weren't for the Truckers' grungy wall of sound and Young's jarring solos, this would probably be hailed as a great organ jazz record.

"Pound It Out" captures the seeming divergent musical styles as Jones plays a laid back groove over a wall of fuzzed-out power chords. With Young's distorted guitar duelling with Jones's B3 over a wall of noise,"Native New Yorker" sounds like an instrumental Crazy Horse track - the melody wouldn't seem out of place on Young's "Greendale" album. The Truckers' composition "Space City" brings the album to a gentle close.

"Potato Hole" was an excellent return for the 65-year-old Jones, but it doesn't seem like it will spark a complete career renaissance. He is still busy with the MG's, touring and acting as the house band for special musical events, not to mention the occasional Neil Young tour. So if you have the opportunity to catch this legend performing his solo material jump on it. You won't be disappointed by this funky organ phenom.