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"With "El Dorado", Marcus King seems to be looking for a new musical identity by multiplying styles, but never manages to find it."
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2/5
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Two years ago, Marcus King excited us with the album "Carolina Confessions". The young prodigy, barely 22 years of age, brought his talents as a blues guitarist and soul singer to the forefront with inspired and groovy blues rock compositions, transcended by jubilant brass instruments. Since then, Marcus moved to Nashville and met Dan Auerbach, frontman of the Black Keys. The two men decided to work together to produce "El Dorado". What can we take away from the collaboration between the sensitive young bluesman and the overrated hipster? Well, a deep boredom.
First of all, it seems obvious that it wasn't Marcus King's guitar talents that seduced Dan Auerbach. Only 'Say You Will' and 'Too Much Whiskey' feature guitar soli worthy of the young man's class. Auerbach is much more fascinated by King's rasping soul voice, which, it must be said, often carries a touch of emotion ('Beautiful Stranger'). However, "El Dorado" is too much of a showcase for Marcus' vocal talents, combining soporific and genius-free soul and country ballads ('Wildflowers & Wine', 'Break', 'Love Song', 'No Pain'). Worse, the vocal performance is sometimes so emphasized by the production that it nip all the delicacy and sensitivity of some songs ('Young Man's Dream').
Yet Marcus King's musical talent is present in every cranny of the album. But he often lurks behind the vintage overbidding of the compositions and only reveals himself when they increase the tempo and become more rhythm and blues in the spirit of Otis Redding ('Turn It Up') or really rock and roll, as on the track 'Too Much Whiskey' which is by far the most successful track of the album.
With "El Dorado", Marcus King seems to be looking for a new musical identity by multiplying styles, but never manages to find it. The fault lies with his predictable compositions which never manage to bring out his personality. Let's hope that he will soon find his Marcus King Band mates again to make us forget this soporific album. Robert Johnson had sold his soul to the devil. Let's hope that Marcus King didn't sell his to Dan Auerbach. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Young Man’s Dream
02. The Well
03. Wildflowers & Wine
04. One Day She’s Here
05. Sweet Mariona
06. Beautiful Stranger
07. Break
08. Say You Will
09. Turn It Up
10. Too Much Whiskey
11. Love Song
12. No Pain
LINEUP:
Dave Roe: Basse
Bobby Wood: Claviers
Gene Chrisman: Batterie
Marcus King: Chant / Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
3/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
2/5 (1 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH MARCUS KING
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT MARCUS KING
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