The more albums
Gary Clark, Jr. makes, the harder it is to classify him, and that's one of the best things about his body of work. While
Clark still gets filed under "blues" by most folks, anyone who heard 2012's
Blak and Blu and 2019's
This Land knows his music encompasses an impressive range of sounds and styles, and for a guy who was supposed to be a guitar hero, his six-string work is only one of the many ingredients he layers into his dense, innovative arrangements.
This Land was a brilliant work of musical wanderlust and articulate rage as he explored the abuses of the Trump era through the lens of Black American music, and if 2024's
JPEG RAW isn't quite as sharp thematically (though it's close), musically it's another triumph that makes room for blues, hard rock, funk, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop flavors that can by turns fill up the dancefloor, set the mood for quiet storm, inspire listeners to man the barricades, and kick out the jams.
George Clinton guests on the track "Funk Witch U," a more than fitting meeting of minds given how
Clark's take on Black rock recalls the glory days of
Funkadelic, and
Stevie Wonder lends vocals to "What About the Children," which wouldn't be at all out of place on one of
Wonder's '70s masterpieces as well as reminding us "Living in the City" is still far more relevant than it should be in 2024.
Keyon Harrold spins some sweet, muted trumpet lines over "Alone Together," a romantic number with a tough undertow, and
Clark trades verses with
Valerie June on "Don't Start," a raw slice of rockin' blues that matches the wiry energy of
R.L. Burnside's electric juke joint sessions.
Gary Clark, Jr.'s catalog shows he has the talent, intelligence, and vision to make a grand-scale musical statement out of any style he chooses, and
JPEG RAW only reinforces that notion; he's been creating some of the boldest and most interesting guitar-based music of his time, and this is as exciting and rewarding as anyone could hope. ~ Mark Deming
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