Search - Dr. John :: Babylon

Swamp funk meets free jazz

Philip J. Lane | miami, florida USA | 05/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"admittedly dr, john the night tripper is an aquired taste. i first heard his debut album "gris gris" in the early 70s and was immediatley hooked on the sinuous grooves, the unusual instrumentation, strange vocal incantations and the dr.'s own inimitable growl. babylon, his second recording, starts here but blends in an avante garde free jazz sound. the lyics are a bit more political (in a kind of beat generation poetic approach).
the best analogy/description i can give here is early meters meet 1960s version ornette coleman. you will either like this CD or hate it. nothing neutral here. personally, i love it!
guitar fans-check out the cut 'lonesome guitar strangler' where dr. john plays some pretty good imitations of gabor szabo and wes montgomery."

How *The Doctor* Earned His Degree

Jon G. Jackson | Santa Rosa, CA | 06/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most of the reviewers have impressively shown how this album followed Dr. John's first release, "Gris, Gris." However, there was also a third album in this early series: 1970's "Remedies." All three add up to a remarkable debut for Mr. Rebennack. Utterly experimental and non-commercial, these recordings have actually allowed me to "forgive" the 30 years of popular music that most fans of Dr. John have come to associate with that name. Of these three albums, I still see BABYLON as a unique offering. All these years later, I can't think of a single artist who has produced anything like it. This is definitely not Top 40 stuff. In 2001, these songs are still "the cutting edge."In retrospect, I see Dr. John as having a career not unlike Elton John's, given that the latter has ended up much more popular, and definitely far more wealthy. Both are remarkable musicians, regardless of what they play. But, their early albums were completely unlike anything that came before...to say nothing of what followed. They are prime examples of the uniqueness of music from the 1960s.So, is it somehow meaningful that this particular album is still only available as an import CD? I think so. But you'll just have to decide for yourself...."

My friend the Good Doctor.

Oswald Placeres | Netherlands | 04/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent music however, the recording sound is too low I don't know if that was the original sound on the original (LP) album? It should be louder. Other than that, I think is a good CD.Buy it if you like Dr.John. The good Doctor will appreciate it."