Check It Out, Lock It In, Crank It Up!

Check It Out, Lock It In, Crank It Up!

Rounder has released some prime examples of contemporary zydeco, as this release from Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers makes evident. Beau Jocque and company pound out some high-energy music here. This is not meant for relaxed listening; this is party music. Good-time classic "Keep a Knockin'" is given the full treatment, including a killer Hammond B3 solo. "Slide and Dip It" comes in two mixes: one zydeco and one "party dip." Both are guaranteed to get your house rocking. "Going Down to the Country," on the other hand, is a raw swamp blues while "She Wants to Sell My Monkey" is all but indescribable. Top these off with an outrageous cover of funk standard "Tighten Up" and you have a nonstop winner. These guys put the "Z" in zydeco! --<I>Lars Gandil</I>