While gospel music often can reach heights of spiritual and musical transcendence, it’s not often that it ever classifies as hip. In my experience, gospel albums have never quite resonated as strongly as seeing a live performance (except of course, anything from our own Mahalia).
Most instrumentation on these albums consists of a snare drum, a bass, and that awful synthesizer/toy keyboard that overpowers the thick rootsy feel of the rhythm and voices. Fear not, lovers of gospel. The Blind Boys of Alabama have created an album that is indeed both deeply spiritual and musically groundbreaking.
Spirit of the Century tackles the near-impossible job of embracing the secular and the spiritual while not losing anything in the process. Producer John Chelew has assembled a band that pairs the legendary vocal group with blues heavyweights John Hammond, Charlie Musselwhite, and David Lindley.
The Blind Boys have been thrilling audiences with their soulful harmonies since the 1940s, but this is the first time they’ve been paired with such a strong cast of supporting musicians. There must have been instant chemistry between this motley crew of musicians because the results are stunning. The album maintains an unmistakable bluesy feel throughout that manages to exude a warmth and looseness that is lacking in so many concept albums.
Part of the beauty of the album is the song choices. How many gospel groups do you think can cover Tom Waits, Moby, the Rolling Stones and Ben Harper, and not only pull them off, but create distinct and fantastic interpretations? The haunting reworking of the oft-covered “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” exemplifies this freshness.
While some tunes like “Motherless Child” and “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” are downright frightening in their sorrowful intensity, songs like “Run On,” “Soldier” and the Stones’ “Just Wanna See His Face” drive with funky, joyful celebration.
Whether you’re a church-going regular or not, these songs will put you right in an imaginary old wooden pew and have you clapping right along.
