Rolling Stone (12/25/03, pp.110-1) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2003"
Rolling Stone (12/11/03, p.202) - "...There is an explicit urban aggression to Ulmer's repossession of the Howlin' Wolf, Earl King and John Lee Hooker songs here, superheated by Charlie Burnham's electric fiddle and David Barnes' sharp harp..."
Living Blues (11/03, p.51) - "...Deconstructed and reinterpreted, this is the blues, no apologies..."
Mojo (Publisher) (11/03, p.131) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...His singing, whether of other blues standbys or his own 'Are You Glad To Be In America?', is deep in the most traditional of grooves..."
Personnel: James Blood Ulmer (vocals, guitar); Queen Esther (vocals); Olu Dara (trumpet); Leon Gruenbaum (piano, Wurlitzer, Fender Rhodes piano, melodica); Hammond B-3 organ, Charlie Burnham (mandolin, electric fiddle); Vernon Reid (guitar, banjo, electric guitar); Mark Peterson (acoustic & electric bass); Aubrey Dayle (drums); John Kruth (tamboura); The Memphis Blood Jugband Singers (background vocals).
Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York on April 23, 24 & 25, 2003.