I like this recording. Some albums lose their freshness after
several initial listenings and end up on the shelf for several
months before being played again. Loaded with dance and party
music, Walk of Life demands regular playing. Its carefully designed
to hook listeners unfamiliar with cajun and zydeco music, and
then reel them in. The first tune, the title cut, "Walk of
Life," sneaks in a bit of accordion to a rock beat. The next
tune brings in some background fiddle. By the third tune, the
Sir Douglas Quintet rock classic, "She's About a Mover,"
the button accordion becomes more prominent and the music is danceable
to a traditional cajun two step. The fourth tune has a strong
zydeco feel with rockabilly guitar licks flavored with an accordion
and fiddle jam. By the fifth tune I was searching around for my
dance partner!
Listeners looking for straight ahead cajun and zydeco may be disappointed
since this music is not traditional. Its what some folks call
"roots music," that is, modern music with strong flavoring
from traditional sources. The album includes a Dire Straits cover
tune. This probably means little to the traditional music lover
but points up a major function of traditional cajun music as a
melting pot for various musical styles. Its only natural that
there be a musical interchange between popular and ethnic musics.
Musicians of any style often borrow from another if they hear
something they like. Traditional cajun and zydeco bands have always
borrowed from any rhythmic or melodic sources that they cared
to. Charles Mann has similarly created a blend of old and new
that appeals to him, and hopes, as his press release states, that
the album: "will attract an audience way beyond the specialist
collector market."
From the point of view of someone trying to introduce a cajun
feel to contemporary music the album succeeds admirably. It would
be a good introduction to someone who has never heard fiddles
and accordions along with electric guitars and drums. Beyond that,
this record stands entirely on its own musical merits. The vocals
are strong and convincing and the music is eminently danceable.
Its the kind of tape you might toss into the glovebox for a long
automobile trip.
copyright Ryan Thomson