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Pluginmusic.com
Mama's Cookin'
"Mama's Cookin'"
by Corinne
Feb 15, 2008
Colorado band Mama's Cookin' certainly have some groove in their step. The syncopated vocal delivery of Mama's Cookin' singer and guitarist Zebuel Early is playful as he slides in and out of the half singing, half speaking approach. It is a style which, when Mama's Cookin' back it with fun, lively instrumentation, brings to mind New Orleans hard partiers Morning Forty Federation or Philly's G. Love. Put those ingredients together and you have the funky and laid back self-titled album from Mama's Cookin'.
Wildys World
Album Review:
Mama's Cookin' - Mama's Cookin'
2007
Mama's Cookin' is positive roots rock at its finest. Taking a dose of down home Mississippi blues and throw it into a roots rock and roll stew and you have a little of What Mama's Cookin' is made of. 2007's self-titled disc is the third offering from Mama's Cookin'. Have a taste.
Mama's Cookin' opens with Run Up Quick, a funk-influenced guitar rock song with great hooks. This is a definite first single with real chart potential. Moving on to What I Am we have a delicious blues-rock gem with fuzzy guitar with loads of Hammond B3 to back it up. Vocalist Zebuel Early has an extremely accessible sound with just a bit of an edge to it, and is at his best here. Aquarius Skies is a jam tune, but keeps the same dynamic energy of the first two songs just bubbling under the surface.
Blogcritics.org
Jon Sobel
Nov 6th 2007
Hip-hop beats and rap-like lyrics merge with heavy blues and strong musicianship in the third album from the young Colorado quartet Mama's Cookin'. The band has come up with a distinct sound, which is quite a rarity. Slide guitar, organ riffs, and live drums alternate with moody jangle and funk grooves, all propping up singer-guitarist Zeb Early's impassioned vocals. It's refreshing and worthwhile.
My only caveat: Early's half-sung, half-rapped style works less well in some of the smoother tracks, like "Lampin'" and "Tough Times" - this sort of music recalls authentic soul sounds like Marvin Gaye's, and, to my ear, seems to call for real singing. (Listen to Kevin So for a more fulfulling modern interpretation of this feel.)
By contrast, in the band's higher-energy rock tracks, like "Run Up Quick," "What I Am," and "Black Reign," the medium matches the socially and politically conscious message, and you can feel the power. Great stuff.
"All-night rockin' like it's supposed to be from this funky sage burning group."
- Narada Michael Walden - Mahavishnu Orchestra
“Vocalist Zebuel Early has an extremely accessible sound with just a bit of an edge to it, and is at his best here.” – Wildy’s World
“My new favorite band” - Jo Jo Herman – Widespread Panic
“Mama's Cookin' seems to have figured out the secret to performance -- energy. Even when at their most reserved, there is this sense of urgent energy running just beneath the song's skin.” – Wildy’s World
“These guys have what it takes…The vibe people can feel and music that gets em’ on the dance floor.” - Bernie Worrell – Parliment/Funkadelic, Talking Heads
“Mama's Cookin' knows how to rock while keeping the soul alive in their music. This is one of the most cohesive and consistent recordings I've reviewed thus far. When you pop in this disc get ready to dance and swing and shout. Mama's Cookin' will move you" – Wildy’s World
"This blew me away!" WHMB Mercer, ME
"One of my favorite CDs this year!" KBAC Santa Fe, NM
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