Reverend Freakchild, Ramblin' John Jennings - Illogical Optimism (2016)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Imagine
02. Hey Pocky a-Way
03. I Still Have Joy
04. Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord
05. Who Do You Love
06. All Along the Watchtower
07. Shark Boogie
08. Pretty Boy Floyd
09. Sweet Sweet You
10. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
11. Big Mouth Blues
12. Hell Hound on My Trail
13. Yer Blues
14. Death Don't Have No Mercy
15. Plastic Jesus / Working on a Building

CD2
01. Once Upon a Time Called Right Now
02. All I Got Is Now (Low Society Remix)
03. All We Got Is Now
04. All I Got Is Now (DJ Billye Remix)
05. Alla Gotta Na'
06. All I Want Is Now!
07. The Bardo of This Life, Dream-Like Nature Remix
08. Ich Hab Nur Diesen Augenblick
09. Tout Ce Dont Tu As Besoin, c'est Maintenant
10. All Is Now
11. Everything Is Now
12. Now?

CD3
01. Safe in the Storm
02. I Saw a Wheel
03. Please Send Me
04. Sinner Blues
05. Livin' and Dyin'
06. Silver Sandals
07. John the Revelator
08. Last Train Blues



This latest project contains 3 CDs and a whole lotta great music! The most recent tunes were recorded with New York master blues artist Hugh Pool, who not only co-produced with award winning Sal Paradise, but also plays some amazing harmonica. The drummer for the session was the world famous Chris Parker, who has graced the stage and studio with many great musicians, such as Paul Butterfield, John Hammond Jr., Bob Dylan, and Joe Cocker. The first CD, Odds, Ends and Other Amazingness, includes songs from this session as well as some other tunes from the Freakchild vault.
The next CD, Everything is Now, is an entire disc of remixes of the Rev’s original ‘All I Got is Now!’
The third disc, Kairos, is an all-acoustic country blues bonus CD from Ramblin’ Jennings. He’s a former preacher from Florida who has now found salvation in singing gospel blues on the streets of south beach. Enjoy.

Illogical Optimism: The first time we encountered the right Rev, we didn't know what to make of him but we enjoyed the trip. Now, this self styled white boy with the blues continues to turn things upside-down with more most enjoyable results. Delivering a triple cd set formatted kind of like the one Prince did for Target, this kicks off with the answer to the question of how "Imagine" would sound if performed by Lou Reed. That disc ends with a cover of "Plastic Jesus" showing this is a cat that can make anything he wants into his kind of blues as the tune takes a metal turn before it's done sounding like a 60s acid trip. Freakchild's owns the genre ‘irreverence' and he delivers it in a most delightful way that those with sticks up their butts will miss the point entirely. Too fearless to ever be self conscious, you can't go wrong getting on board with this ‘holy roller' and all his personas.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]