Listen to the fun that Grey is having while singing "On Fire" and you'll see what I mean. You can't do that if you're going to get hung up on being melodramatic over nothing. Being a soulful singer means you sing every song with everything you've got so nothing is left over when the song is done. When you listen to Grey sing, no matter what the song is about, you know that he's not held back, and the song is only over because he's got nothing more to add.
When I first heard JJ Grey & Mofro what caught my attention was the way they had created a sound that reflected the part of the world they came from, and wrote songs that worked within that frame work. With each subsequent disc I've heard them expand on that base and branch out into new directions while still holding on to the core that made them distinct in the first place. Orange Blossoms, being released on August 26, '08 continues that process and shows them to be more than just a regional band. This is music that speaks to you no matter where you come from or where you've been.
Article comments
1 - Travis
I have been a Mofro Fan since Blackwater and have seen them live several times. JJ is awesome and just as incredible on stage as he is in the studio. I was going to buy this regardless today but now after reading your review which says everything about mofro that can be said, i am 10 times more excited and cant wait to bust out of work and go buy this album!!
2 - Clay
This is one of the most thorough reviews of Orange Blossoms that I've seen. Nice job of feeling the music, JJ's heart and soul, and letting people know that this record is special. I administer their unofficial fansite so I'm biased, but I couldn't have put it better than you did.
If I had any criticism at all, the photo on page one is probably 4 years old. One of the guys in the photo is no longer with the band and was not on Orange Blossoms. There are 2 additional members now as well (the horn players.)