Salad Blessing

Overall Album Score: 8.1 out of 10

I don't know what kind of crack I was smoking or if I originally listened to this album with the volume off, but I see it as clear as rain that this album is no 7.3. No, no, no!! This is another great offering from these guys. My 22-year-old self was originally disappointed with this release accusing it of being 'tossed-off,' but my opinion of it has changed now that I have reached the ripe old age of 24. This is an excellent release with an amazing display of instrumental virtuosity. I'm not a rock historian, but I'd imagine this stuff was pretty damn revolutionary.

This group, the most famous and greatest instrumental rock group ever, attained world fame for the title track on their Green Onions album. They also made some huge contributions in the way they played their instruments. Booker T. Jones (leader of the band) can play that organ like ... um ... Casanova can play women. (I'll have to work on that analogy when I do the third rewrite!) Plus, the guitarist Steve Cropper is some kind of guitar player. He has some mighty tricks up his sleeve! Much of what he does is delicious too.

Everybody loves the groove in the title track. The best drumming occurs in that song too with those taps that seem to echo... You're going to have to hear that song before you get on with your life. Also, "Tic-Tac-Toe" is a tremendous example of what Jones can do with that organ. The "Green Onions" clone, "Jellybread," even manages to be pretty damn weird ... I'd say it's the weirdest song of the album thanks to Cropper's off-kilter guitar licks. Oh, let's not forget to showcase the bass! ... Take a look at that dancey closing track, "Can't Be Still." The bass-line doesn't misrepresent the title!

Naturally, the album has its weak spots. This is what 22-year-old Don Ignacio was working so hard to prove. Some of the material, especially in the middle of the album, sounds awfully plodding and uninspired. The groove in "Chinese Checkers," for example, is just monotonous. I'm sure the bass-player is a fine person and he can play bass in my imaginary band anytime ... but yer gonna be voted out of this band. Goodbye! Also the chord progressions are pretty generic sometimes ... Well, it's the mid-60s so you can kind of forgive that, but that doesn't make 'em any less generic!

Overall Album Score: 8.1 out of 10 (Not the world's brightest creation compared to Green Onions, but there's still enough great material to feed the soul-lover.)

Average Song Score: 8.4 (Leave most of these chord progressions to the dogs, but the instrumental work continues to dazzle. Who needs singing?)

Album Tilt: 8.0 (It's not as universally enjoyable as their previous work, but it still has more shiny moments to last a lifetime.)

Artist Rating: 8.0 (I'm sure these guys were influential. But some of the material is a bit uninspiring to give this rating too much of a boost.)

Track Reviews

Soul Dressing 10/10

True, it might not be as utterly exciting or as seemingly innovative as "Green Onions," but this song has a really nice groove. The chord progression is interesting! The organ piddles around. There's a violent bit in the middle where an electric guitar pipes up for a minute. I'm really in love with that drum that does that sort of echo effect with the tapping. This is a really fun song.

Tic-Tac-Toe 9/10

That organ is really doing some awesome things here. Jones can play it like no man!! I don't even think he is a man! The groove is fun ... the chord progression isn't anything new. Naturally, I like how the song is played, and it's also a toe-tapper! The electric guitar chimes in for a moment to nice effect.

Big Train 8.5/10

That pounding groove manages to get on my nerves a little bit. At any rate, it's not as compelling as some of their other songs. The electric guitar performance is nice!

Jellybread 9/10

A little bit of a clone of "Green Onions," but the electric guitar doing those drunken licks at the beginning of it makes it seem new. (The guitar especially in here is to-die-for ... they'll give you all the soul to ... um ... save the world?) The groove seems a little more violent somehow ... The organ is a little odder in spots where it almost seems like Jones is pounding the instrument with his elbows. It produces an odd effect.

Aw' Mercy 8.5/10

This one isn't as exciting as the others. The groove is fine but not too exciting. The guitar is the main attraction of this song ... anyone who can't dig that eclectic noodling is probably listening to this song with the volume off (like I originally was).

Outrage 8/10

This the most upbeat song of the bunch so far. Although, I can't say it's as compelling as I would have liked. I mean, I like upbeat songs! The organ does some pretty clever things in the middle. But at least you can dance to this song, and that has its appeal.

Night Owl Walk 7.5/10

They tend to lose me hear. 22-year-old Don Ignacio described this as elevator muzak, and I tend to agree with him. This track is really slow and quiet, and the instrumentals ... well ... they just sound bored! There are a few soulful licks here and there on both instruments (the 'mini-explosions' in the middle of the songs were a great touch), they're not truly into it.

Chinese Checkers 7/10

I suppose the whole reason they eventually had to replace their bassist was because of songs like this. The groove just chugs a long and it becomes pretty heavy and monotonous after awhile. 22-year-old Don Ignacio was right.

Home Grown 7.5/10

Again, the groove could be more inspiring, but the electric organ work really wins me over here, and there are some great licks on that guitar! The heavy sound of it gives it a nice feeling, but I can't help but feel, again, that the effort grows monotonous! Mhmhm.

Mercy Mercy 8/10

It's a little nicer here, but still the effort seems like it could have used a little more life. The organ is very nice, and the guitar has some life. The melody is fine, and this is a pretty fun song. It manages to come off like they're going through the motions, but ... I like it.

Plum Nellie 9/10

There's an odd effect they do here ... They bring in some horn waves almost to the effect of a synthesizer. Interesting! The organ has excellent personality here.

Can't Be Still 8.5/10

Just like the title suggests, this is song that you can dance to. OH THAT BASSLINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! The chord progression is very boring, but ... hey ... it's blues! Naturally, the guitar work is great. This guitar noodling really spoils me ... I get too used to it.

Are your comments fit to print? Well, you can send them to me anyway here!