Rolling Stone (9/27/01, p.70) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Summons the evangelical spirit of a crusade in progress, capturing the feeling not just of the revival tent but of the dark, human swampland lurking beyond it..."
Entertainment Weekly (4/27/01, p.119) - "...With an estimable backing band...and fetching covers...these gospel elders have found the fountain of youth..." - Rating: A-
Q (5/01, p.103) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Their first attempt at recording modern gospel-inspired material succeeds admirably....powerful enough to give Karl Marx religion..."
CMJ (4/23/01, p.10) - "...There's always risk in taking such purity and adding outside elements, but the Blind Boys are the stars here...withtheir guests adding tasteful touches of blues and soul..."
Vibe (6/01, p.158) - 4 discs out of 5 - "With their gravelly, tight-knit gospel harmonizing and raw, gutbucket soul, [they] make cats liek Sisqo and K-Ci sound like vocal pip-sqeaks....It maikes you want to holla and scream, hallelujah!"
Mojo (Publisher) (5/01, p.112) - "...Refreshingly accessible, fitted out as it is with instrumental settings...that re both piquant and ingenious....an affecting album."
Blind Boys Of Alabama: Clarence Fountain, Jimmy Carter, George Scott, Joey Williams (vocals).
Additional Personnel includes: David Lindley (electric & slide guitars, oud); John Hammond (electric guitar, dobro); Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica); Danny Thompson (double bass); Michael Jerome (drums).
Recorded at Capitol Studio B, Los Angeles, California between March 21 & 24.
SPIRIT OF THE CENTURY won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.
