Legend of Tommy Johnson Act 1
Through his portrayal ofTommy Johnson(the real-life composer of "Canned Heat Blues"), Chris Thomas King brought some Delta blues to the bluegrass-drivenO Brother, Where Art Thou?soundtrack. In addition to providing a cinematic breakthrough for the New Orleans-based artist, the role has sparked King's finest album in more than a decade, with a cycle of songs inspired by (but not included in) the movie. Channeling the musical spirit of Tommy (which means forsaking the hip-hop samples and scratching King typically employs), the progressive bluesman traces the arc of the music's development, from the gospel grace of "Trouble Will Soon Be Over" and acoustic lilt of "Flooded in the Delta" through the syncopated call and response of "Watermelon Man"  and the supercharged rock of "Do Fries Go with That Shake?" As a multitalented musician (who plays everything here), producer, singer, and songwriter, King combines an intuitive affinity for where the music's been with a progressive vision of where it's headed.--Don McLeese