Pokey LaFarge- Something in the Water (ALBUM REVIEW)

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The hardworking Americana/Roots performer Pokey LaFarge is back with his seventh full length release and his first on Rounder Records titled Something In The Water. The disk continues LaFarge’s throwback sound, coming straight out of the early 20th century with everything from barroom pianos, deep tubas and washboards coloring the tracks.

The title tune is LaFarge in a nutshell, old-school instrumentation but current crooning about an inscrutable Hoosier girl he loves; modern and retro in one. “Wanna Be Your Man” has a loose jazz feel to it as the trumpet solo mixes nicely with tinkling ivories while “Underground” is all about the rhythm of the bass and drums.

Pokey does his take on some classic blues tracks with the warbling vocals on the slow shuffling “When Did You Leave Heaven” and the upbeat horn drenched “All Night Long” complete with call and response. The tempo picks up for the steaming freight train of “Actin’ A Fool” and “Bad Girl” shows off some excellently placed backing harmonies. “Goodbye, Barcelona” is a bit of an outlier as LaFarge incorporates a Spanish flair with veritable ease and confidence.

Back in the U.S. of A LaFarge’s home state gets lots of love including the waltzing “Cairo, Illinois” and that mid-western feel comes to the forefront on the albums best tune, album closer “Knockin’ The Dust Off The Rust Belt Tonight”. A lively theme song for the singer that will certainly be a highlight of Pokey’s live sets going forward, this jam is a romp and ends Something In The Water on a high note.

Recorded in Chicago’s Hi-Style studio with producer Jimmy Sutton the albums crisp sound is a bit too perfect for these ancient sounding songs; a little dirt and grime would enhance the overall feel. Even without the dusty bottoms these tracks will bring an old-timey smile to your face along with a shake and jitter.