Jones, Sharon and The Dap Kings – “100 Days 100 Nights ” – [Daptone Records]

Hunter Gatherer   9/11/2007   CD, Soul

The Jesuits have a saying: Show me the boy at 7 and I will show you the man. But Sharon Jones only needs 100 days and 100 nights to know a man???s heart.

In between the over 260 shows they???ve played since releasing 2005???s Naturally (CD-Soul), Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings somehow found time to record a third full-length record, 100 Days, 100 Nights.

The Dap-Tones are road-tight as ever, and all ten tracks are catchy, hooky, and funky as anything. Their sound seems to be drifting from a funky, southern, Augusta, GA sound to something more northern, soulful, and R&B-infused. Tell Me (3) and Nobody???s Baby (2) has the sunny feel of the best Philly or Memphis soul.

Also, the song craft and arrangements are more sophisticated. Ms. Jones completely stops the title track (1) and restarts it again in half time. And be sure to listen to Something???s Changed (7), with a complex chord structure and string(!) arrangement that hint at a turning point in this band???s sound.

–Hunter Gatherer