The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker

Whether it's a deliberate reaction to the banality of contemporary urban music or an innocent revival of past glory days, the deep-funk sound has once again become a force to be reckoned with. Steeped in traditions of early Stax Records and the Atlantic Records-Muscle Shoals connection, the Dynamites featuring Charles Walker pack a one-two-three punch on their incendiary KABOOM!. The singer, the songs and the band combine to make a near-perfect "soul" album, a rarity in today's music world.

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It's easy to drop the names that obviously influenced this record: Otis Redding, James Brown, Eddie Floyd, the Bar-Kays. But Walker is also an original with a career that started in the early '60s. He hasn't lost a lick of style or voice, giving songwriter Leo Black the perfect medium for his finely constructed R&B jewels. And the Dynamites are just that – dynamite. Sharp as tacks and super funky, they bring it all to the table and dare you to sit still. 5 stars

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