Tell 'Em What Your Name Is!

Man, this CD hasn't left the car since I purchased it. It's on my iPod and on my computer at work. I just can't get enough of Black Joe Lewis and his gutbucket brigade, the Honeybears. Think James Brown with more energy and a slightly dirtier mind. Sounds like Stax-era horns and guitar soul with more attitude.The album blasts off with the funky "Gunpowder" and "Sugarfoot" before slowing down the pace (but not the intensity!) with "I'm Broke". "I'm Broke" has a building horn part that'll make you shout. The party keeps on rolling with "Big Booty Woman" and "Boogie" before taking a darker turn with "Master Sold My Baby". The mood lightens back up with "Get Yo [...]", coupling some of the funniest damn lyrics I've ever heard with a great guitar chorus. From there, they head into Booker T territory with the instrumental "Humpin'". "Bobby Boshay" and the James Brownish "Please Pt. 2" close out the album.If this album has a flaw, it's that it's too doggone short. I can't wait to hear the next one ( Scandalous ) and plan on picking it up the day it hits stores, something I haven't done with a band in ages. Black Joe Lewis is legit!

This is a very short album, barely passing the 30-minute mark, but is absolutely packed with fiery, uptempo, combustible funky and bluesy soul tunes, all powered by a blistering barrage of horns, piano, and guitar. Man, listening to the frenetic pace of this album almost takes my breath away. It's that good. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears remind me of several other artists: Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, along with the J. Geils Band, and even the Black Crowes. Throw in the Gun Club for that Jeffrey Lee Pierce type of wild abandon while we're at it. I hear it. Really, the music on this CD has got the feel and soul and vibe of all those artists. Please, please, please, don't let any producers try and "smooth out" this band's rough and tumble style. I like it like this.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are a band which are more commonly labelled "Retro-Soul" these days. Alike one of their peer bands, Vintage Trouble, the label hardly describes the contents. Black Joe Lewis is "the real deal". If you don't like dancing all over the house and singing along with a grin from ear to ear then don't buy this. There is no way you can listen to something like this and stay seated. This is a solid tight soulful band the likes of what we've seen come out of Muscle Shoals and Memphis. Joe Lewis has a course but deep and soulful set of vocals that fits them like a glove! If you love Otis, Aretha, Wilson Pickett or Sam & Dave, don't hesitate to snatch this one up!

I love the sound of this band, but after awhile, Joe's voice really starts to grate. The instrumentation is great, I love the horns, and Joe is a great guitar player and songwriter (for the type of sound he's aiming for), but he just doesn't have much vocal range. That said, I'm really surprised a couple of these songs haven't found their way onto some 1970s period movie or TV soundtrack.

Arrived safely and promptly. A fan, very pleased with this collection of music.

Loved this music. Reminded me strongly of Old MoTown of the 60's 70's! Mr. Lewis is clearly making the music he loves.

Most products can garner a four or five star rating with simple things. Music is different. I think these guys have infinite potential. This album wreaks of James Brown. There are obvious other influences but they are overpowered by the "good foot" vocals and horns that would make J.B. proud. It may also piss him off on some occassions. I agree with one of the previous statements that most great albums take you on a ride that changes sound and offers changes in rhythm, lyrics and tone. This one starts and ends the same way. Its feverish and very sophomoric but infectious and groovy at the same time. You will enjoy it and then become bored with the lack of versatility. Eventually you will play the four or five songs that personnify the album for you and keep the rest on the shelf.

GREAT!!

New band, old sound (sort of) a bit of James Brown meets rock and roll. Great brass from the Honeybears and mean singing and guitar from Black Joe Lewis, the whole CD makes you want to jump around favourites are Sugarfoot, I'm Broke, Boogie and Humpin'.Well worth a listen if you like any kind of music

Great stomping R'n'B music old style. Impossible not to tap a foot and shake a behind!

Great album

There is a British legend that King Arthur (he of the Round Table) is sleeping underground until he wakes to deal with the greatest crisis that will ever threaten the island of Britain.Similarly we've always known that in a dark cave somewhere, possibly in the Catskills or even the Appalachians,the Legendary Blues Brothers have been hibernating, ready to be revived in a time of need.That time is clearly now, because Black Joe Lewis and his Honeybears' latest CD is plainly Jake and Elwood brought back to life, dusted down for the twenty first century and brought blazing back into the limelight. Minus all the "Minnie the Moocher" nonsense of course, and with added "parenteral advisory lyrics".All this is by way of a compliment. Terrific good time hard-driving, brass heavy blues music. Great fun and well worth buying.

Au cas ou comme moi,vous n'auriez pas trop saisi le commentaire non signé d'Amazon.fr concernant ce disque , allez sur le site officiel de ce superbe groupe d'Austin, et vous comprendrez en cliquant sur "bio". C'est de la mauvaise traduction littérale, d'un texte anglais, qui en gros vante les mérites de ce type de musique : impossible de ne pas bouger, la hanche et le coeur étant relié par un fil invisible, ou un gros nerf..... J'ai attendu un bout de temps, avant de tenter d'écrire deux ou trois lignes sur ces garçons : une tronche, un nom qui claque, Black Joe Lewis et les Honeybears, une superbe pochette, un joli coffret, et dedans... 30 minutes (pas plus), d'électrochocs (10 chansons). Impossible de définir correctement leur musique : c'est résolument un son neuf, nouveau, qui ne cherche absolument pas à re-réchauffer le fantôme, d'Ike... mais ils sont sous influences, et pas des moindres ! J'entends pêle-mêle, la fureur de Détroit (Mc5), les intros d'Otis, et de la Stax, par moment la voix de Jagger (il y 77 ans), le groove et le déhanchement (si si je l'entends) de James Brown, quand il finissait à genoux, et qu'on venait le couvrir avec le manteau à pailettes. C'est absolument incroyable,et pourtant ce son est neuf, puissant,moderne, même des rappeurs doivent pouvoir écouter çà. Après avoir écrit toutes ces pensées profondes, je suis alllé sur le "Websiteofficial" : j'suis complètement à côté : ils citent Lightnin'Hopkins comme une de leurs influences majeures ! J'ai pourtant plus l'impression d'entendre les extraordinaires et éphémères RED DEVILS, qu'un bluesman pur et dur. Pas grave Ramone, ce disque est à découvrir absolument, et je pense que les prestations scéniques de ces garçons, vont être explosives !