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Alligator Purse
Beausoleil
Alligator Purse
Genres: Blues, Folk, International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #1

Grammy winners and 10-time nominees BeauSoleil continue their scion-like march through the panorama of American music with Alligator Purse. Over the past 30-plus years, BeauSoleil has been the very heartbeat of Cajun music...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Beausoleil
Title: Alligator Purse
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Yep Roc Records
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 1/20/2009
Genres: Blues, Folk, International Music, Pop
Styles: Regional Blues, Cajun & Zydeco, Traditional Folk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 634457218529, 6344577285298, 634457728529

Synopsis

Product Description
Grammy winners and 10-time nominees BeauSoleil continue their scion-like march through the panorama of American music with Alligator Purse. Over the past 30-plus years, BeauSoleil has been the very heartbeat of Cajun music and culture, keeping it vital through not only their attention to tradition, but also through passionate and inventive experimentation. This time around these twin creative approaches combine yet again, manifesting themselves in some of music s most authentic and recognizable names.

On Alligator Purse BeauSoleil s fearless captain Michael Doucet leads the next installment of his musical journey along the lifeline of Cajun music, this time with an all star crew including Natalie Merchant ('Little Darlin'), Garth Hudson ('I've Spent All My Money Loving You'), John Sebastian, Roswell Rudd, Bill Keith and others. His notable friends help Doucet bring the rich folk traditions of south Louisiana into the 21st century through the genius interplay of a new take on Cajun favorites ('Marie') and the Cajunization of modern folk classics. A French language reworking of Bob Dylan s cover of Muddy Waters classic Rollin & Tumblin ('Rouler et Tourner') and J.J. Cale's 'The Problem' stand alongside Cajun and Creole history lessons like 'Reel Cajun (451 St. Joseph St.),' 'Les Oignons' and 'Théogéne Creole,' originally sung for John and Alan Lomax s historic 1934 field recordings.

Alligator Purse is the funkiest history lesson ever created, a sweaty sweep through the lore of one of the most vital veins of America s musical heritage and a stark reminder that musical history is best served by a dance floor, not a museum.

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CD Reviews

Fine program of traditional and contemporary Cajun music
hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 01/20/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Formed in the mid-70s as a platform for Louisiana fiddler Michael Doucet's appreciation of his native Cajun musical traditions, BeauSoleil has become an integral part of the history it sought to provide popular resuscitation. More importantly, by interweaving Cajun, zydeco, country, blues, jazz, and other sounds, BeauSoleil not only sparked renewed interest in Southern Louisianan sounds, but moved beyond simple preservation (to the consternation of some critics) to innovation. Doucet's early studies in the UK and France provided exposure to the genre's classic songs, the music's European roots, and the techniques of seminal players. As the lessons were internalized the group has more freely inflected the classics with new flavors and drawn non-Cajun material into the fold. The group's latest (their 29th release!) includes collaborations with Natalie Merchant, Garth Hudson, John Sebastian and others.



Doucet comes out blazing on the instrumental "Reel Cajun (451 N. St. Joseph)," nearly sawing his fiddle in half as he pays tribute to Dennis McGee. Second line drumming provides an apt rhythm for the French translation of Muddy Waters' "Rollin' & Tumblin'," rendered here as "Rouler et Tourner." Julie Miller's "Little Darlin'," which originally appeared as a duet with her husband Buddy Miller on 2004's Love Snuck Up, has its backwoods country twang taken upbeat by Doucet and Natalie Merchant. Cooling down with the New Orleans stroll of "Marie" (supplemented by Andy Stein's superb sax solo) you start to feel this disc is sequenced as an evening's dance program. The band combines classic fiddle and accordion lines with the more contemporary sound of a flat-picked guitar on the waltz-time "Valse á BeauSoleil," and gives dancers a chance to promenade with "Bosco Stomp."



The mid-30's ballad "La Chanson de Théogène Dubois" is transformed with a Latin beat into "Théogène Creole," with the flat-picked acoustic guitar, accordion and fiddle each taking a spin in the spotlight. The group also works its magic on Bobby Charles' "I Spent All My Money Loving You," retaining the song's original Memphis soul with drums and organ, but adding Cajun flavors with accordion and a French translation of the verses. J.J. Cale's skiffle-blues "The Problem" gets a more straight-up treatment, with the original's shuffle beat emphasized in all of the instruments. Cale's lyrics of empty-headed leaders and passive followers was a potent indictment of Bush's failed administration, and remains a stirring call-to-arms. Amédé Ardoin's classic "Valse á Thomas Ardoin" offers a last call from the accordion and a fitting close to BeauSoleil's Cajun prom. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]"
Watch Out: Alligators Ahead!
R. E. Wendrich Design | Breukelen, the Netherlands | 03/19/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sometime ago I was looking to see if Nathalie Merchant was doing a new album somehow, hope so...anyway I stumbled across an Alligator Purse on which album she contributed...of course needed that in my collection and I must say: Superb Album! I just love that sound, the energy and passion of these people!

Sitting there and listening to the songs my ears were triggered by the subtle and preluding sound of an organ...it sounded much like the Band used to do...and that of course had to do with wonderboy Garth Hudson!

Sifting through the text on the, well-designed cd-cover, I came across my Canadian hero, Garth!

Anyhow, if you really like music and support the French-Canadian and Cajun tradition than this album is a must have! Way to go Beausoleil...Lekker Zonnetje indeed!"
Performance
General Warthog | Ypsilanti, MI | 02/18/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)

"the waltz version of the song on the cd isn't as good as the version on Looking Back Tomorrow"