An unsung monster from the waning hours of the
Stax
empire,
Roy Lee Johnson and the Villagers
' eponymous LP is as funky as anything the label ever released. While its sound is unmistakably
-- its elegant yet earthy sensibility couldn't come from anywhere else -- the music expands on the formula via tight, hypnotic grooves and scorching guitar licks. The up-tempo
"I Can't Stand This Loneliness"
is the unqualified highlight, but there's not a bum note to be found here -- everything works, from the relentless opener
"Patch It Up"
to the lovely
ballad
"Something Special."
~ Jason Ankeny