Snow Day Listening: Booker T. & the Roots

By Ryan O'Connell on 01/03/2014 • ( 1 )

Snow day.

Those two words are damn near magical- no matter what age you might be. It should be noted that I currently don’t have kids and those that do have kids might have a different view of a snow day. It might be a more negative view. I’m sorry. But like I said, I currently don’t have kids. My wife and I have a dog, Lucy, and on a somewhat related note, when it snows, Lucy poops in the middle of the street.

Moving on.

Today’s a snow day. Snow came whipping in like a bastard last night and temperatures have officially hit the Really Effin’ Cold point. There might be at least eight to nine inches in our driveway…but don’t worry…I’ll shovel. Might even use the snow blower a bit. Lucy will be eating snow in the backyard. Some of us just have it made.

But until that point comes, Lucy and I are rocking some couch time, reading about Alabama’s loss, NFL playoff predictions (I’m leaning towards the 49ers, but am not counting out the Pats, Broncos, Seahawks and Packers) and the story of a fisherman who fell overboard while off the coast of Long Island. TV isn’t on. Instead, we’ve opted for jams. Specifically The Road From Memphis, the 2011 release by Booker T. Jones.

The Road From Memphis is a damn funky, smooth album. It’s mostly instrumental and features the famous organist (backed by the Roots) kicking around various Gnarls Barkley, Lauryn Hill and the Roots covers. He’s also joined by Jim James from My Morning Jacket, the late Lou Reed, Sharon Jones (sans Dap Kings,) and Biz Markie on a version of Markie’s joint, “Just a Friend.” The highlight of the album is “Representing Memphis,” which features Jones, as well as Matt Beringer from the National. It’s soul at it’s finest. Easy grooves, easy listening, easy to sing along too even if it’s the first time you’re hearing it.

Regardless of your snow day activities, “The Road from Memphis” works. It’s shoveling music. It’s cleaning the house music. It’s perusing the Internet music. It’s lie on the couch and stare at the Christmas tree, wondering when you’re going to take it down music.

It’s just damn good music. Plain and simple.

Questlove, you magnificent bastard, you’ve done it again.