Gary Clark Jr – The Story of Sonny Boy Slim: The R&B Album We All Desperately Needed

Gary Clark Jr.

Chicago – Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing Gary Clark Jr.‘s live album, simply titled Live. I declared it a masterpiece and hailed the Grammy winner as the new Hendrix and called him a “legend among men, the musician of our generation, and when parents school their children in what ‘real music’ is, they’ll reference the guitar wizard who ignited a fire in their bones.” So when I was presented the opportunity to review his latest release and “proper” sophomore album, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, I jumped at it. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I expected more of the killer guitar riffs and bluesy gems Clark has become known for. I’d also be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed when I realized that wasn’t what Clark was dishing out this time around. But then it hit me: This year, Gary Clark Jr. released the quintessential R&B album, soaked in sounds of rhythm and blues, past and present, from the 50s and 70s to the contemporary R&B of the 90s, sprinkled with funk and hip hop, and wrapped in love, faith, and hope.

Gary Clark Jr. has graced us with a sound that’s surely been missed. When the 2000s rolled around, the lush R&B landscape that graced radio for a glorious decade, began to perish. Hip hop and rap seemed to rule the day. At the start of 2005, it began to return, but rather white-washed and dressed as “soul,” mostly sung by people across the pond, from Duffy and Adele to Sam Smith. Now I’m not knocking these artists. I’d be the first to tell you I love Adele, and I played out Duffy’s Rockferry. However, if we’re really being  honest, might we ask what is going on when Ed Sheeran tops a BBC list of the most important artists in the black and urban music scene? (That title itself is problematic because why does “urban” always seem to equate black and brown in our society? But that’s a whole other discussion.) Okay, yes Usher’s still been hanging in there – but by a thin thread that’s been waxed by a team of top 40 pop writers and producers –  D’Angelo returned to us with Black Messiah, and for a minute we had Frank Ocean (Oh where did you go Frank Ocean?), but here comes Clark riding in, like the shining knight of R&B, ready to save us all with his self-produced thirteen track pièce de résistance.

The album begins with “The Healing.” A man can be heard singing the traditional Christian hymn, “Hard Fighting Soldier,” before Clark interrupts with deep hip hop beats and a “service” of sorts, singing, “This music is my healing.” Clark has said this is an album about faith and hope, partially inspired by the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson and the Baltimore riots following the death of Freddie Gray.

His social commentary cuts deep, but Clark doesn’t allow anger or sadness to undermine his optimism, especially with “Hold On.” It is one of the strongest tracks on The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, both musically and lyrically, digging into what it is to be a black man in the United States, with Clark reflecting on what his father struggled with, now that he has become a father. It starts off with Clark’s tender vocals singing, “What are we gonna to do with you / We got everything to lose with you so / What are we gonna do with you,” over a gentle piano melody overlaid with the coos of his infant son, but then breaks into a hip hop beat and an upbeat message of hope: “Hold on, we’re gonna make it.”

“Stay” is another powerful song. It’s heavy on guitar, and the emotion is magnified by Clark’s scruffy voice, balancing the sound he’s become known for, especially as a live performer, with the predominately R&B structure of the album, primarily where the lyrics are concerned: “Every time I see you, it feels like the first time / And every time I leave you, I lose my mind / That’s why I need you to stay with me / Go all the way with me.”

If you have someone special, “Our Love” will make you want to squeeze them tight and slow dance under the moonlight or do a little something else in the dark of the night, like a true R&B hit does, and if you don’t have someone to call your own, this old school tune will make you long to fall in love all over again. Much of the album touches upon love and all the highs and lows that come with it, from “Church” and its beautiful harmonica, to the sexy “Cold Blooded.”

Gary Clark Jr - The Story of Sonny Boy Slim cover

“Star” highlights Clark’s beautiful voice, rather than his guitar playing, but “Grinder” holds on to those awesome guitar riffs he became known for. “Shake” is the one track on the album that really holds to the blues, and while it’s a beautiful track, it seems slightly out of place. “Wings” has a phenomenal beat, and “Can’t Sleep” has Clark giving us a soft dance track, beckoning the bygone disco era.

“Down To Ride” is lucky number thirteen and the best of the bunch. It takes you back to the good old days of 90s R&B, where the beat seeps into every ounce of your body, and the sultry vocals send goosebumps down your arms. It even completes the 90s effect with some synths. Think Keith Sweat, R. Kelly, and Jodeci. At almost eight minutes long, you’d think “Down To Ride” would run its course, but it doesn’t. In fact, it entices you to hit repeat. You’ll probably find yourself listening to it over and over again, like you did that new K-Ci & JoJo single you purchased on cassette back in 1998.

The Story of Sonny Boy Slim is available for purchase on iTunes. Gary Clark Jr. will be heading out on tour this Fall in support of The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. A list of dates is available on the Gary Clark Jr. Facebook page.

 

Sarah Hess

Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.


You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
Sarah Hess

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