Search - Doug Kershaw :: The Cajun Way

Doug Kershaw at his finest!

perfumenut | Philadelphia, PA | 05/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a Doug Kershaw fan since I was a toddler and this is my absolute favorite album of Doug's. You can't stay still while listening - it is so upbeat and energizing. I'm not a country music fan or even a Cajun Music fan, but I am certainly a Doug Kershaw fan!"

It Might Not Be The Cajun Way, But For Nashville Product, C'

Audio Obscurica | Spectrum of Sound | 04/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up I saw so many copies of this album that I figured it was loaded with hit singles. I was wrong. In fact, this LP never charted!

This was the first LP of Doug's I ever heard. So for me, the versions of "Diggy Diggy Lo" and "Louisiana Man" are the definitive reneditions. There's not a clunker here at all. Doug plays fiddle and his 12-string dobro (why did he ever do away with that instrument?) and Charlie McCoy provides harmonica. Who are the other musicians? Who knows! Despite the anonymity of all involved, and as much as a product off of the Music Row Assembly Line as it may be, Doug's best performances are found in these grooves. His best songs are here. Look at "You Fight Your Fight" or "Papa Died Old" - about his father's suicide (a recurring theme Doug would visit in his early solo tracks), Doug doesn't do this kind of stuff anymore, and probably hasn't since he recorded this record. There's also "Mama and Papa Had Love", and the goofy "Feed It To The Fish", Doug semi-flowing, occasionally-broken phrasing on "If We Don't Stop Rushing" gives you the idea he's trying to get a mood across, and he succeeds on "When I'm Fully Grown", a blues number (!) "Sweet Jolie Blon" was Doug's first faux-Cajun number on record, but its not as embarrasingly bad as, say "Mon Chapeau" from "Ragin' Cajun", or "Porquois M'Aimes Tu-Pas" from "Louisiana Man". "Bayou Teche" is a nice mover, and "Come Kiss Your Man" is a serious solid mood piece, with Memphis style backing, and Doug's double-tracked backing vocal. "Rita Put Your Black Shoes On" completes the family story arc in the album.

With "The Cajun Way" Doug introduced us to his music, and his family. A high quality record, but a 200% quality increase would present itself in his next album, "Spanish Moss"."