Positively Beadhead

Terrance Simien keeps upping the ante with each album, pushing the envelope with his blend of traditional zydeco wedded to modern beats and a highly energetic outlook. Positively Beadhead is a dedication reference to the band's many fans, known collectively as "beadheads," and the music inside will not disappoint them. On "500 Miles," Simien puts a modern reggae twist to the old folk music standard. And tracks like "Grandma's House," "Paradise," and Wet Willie's "Keep on Smilin'" blend zydeco with modern grooves and vocal harmonies to produce music that's both emotionally deep and party-approved. Simien's love of tradition is also displayed on his sleeve with a fine reading of "Jolie Blonde," the pulsating "Macque Choux," "La Neuville Danse," and the rollicking closer, "Shake Your Tambourine," making for an album that has a lot more going for it than just another garden-variety zydeco party disc. With each album, Terrance Simien continues to define his art; consider this volume another brick in the wall, solid as can be, from an artist who honors his roots while heading straight for the future. ~ Cub Koda|