Wilson Pickett knows the heyday of soul is over, but on It's Harder Now, his first recording in over 10 years, he makes a determined effort to keep the party going. And for the most part, he succeeds; on "Outskirts of Town... more »," "Bad People," and "Stone Crazy World," he sounds like he's having the time of his life. This isn't any super-milkshake-smooth soul, either; the author of "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally" sounds more like a double shot of J.D., straight up. Still, Pickett knows that he's of a vanishing breed: the soul singers who were actually performing in the 1960s. As he sings on "Soul Survivor": "I remember 1965/Everybody was still alive." --Genevieve Williams« less
Wilson Pickett knows the heyday of soul is over, but on It's Harder Now, his first recording in over 10 years, he makes a determined effort to keep the party going. And for the most part, he succeeds; on "Outskirts of Town," "Bad People," and "Stone Crazy World," he sounds like he's having the time of his life. This isn't any super-milkshake-smooth soul, either; the author of "In the Midnight Hour" and "Mustang Sally" sounds more like a double shot of J.D., straight up. Still, Pickett knows that he's of a vanishing breed: the soul singers who were actually performing in the 1960s. As he sings on "Soul Survivor": "I remember 1965/Everybody was still alive." --Genevieve Williams
"Wilson Pickett's first new release in almost 20 years shows that he hasn't lost a thing, picking up where he left off with his raw, soulful vocals. It is refreshing to hear a CD void of synthesizers and gimmicks...only real horns, organs and guitars here. This CD makes you want to get up and dance. Don't miss this rare work of soul."
Soul Man on Top
Howard Huddleston | Jefferson City, MO | 12/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wilson Pickett, one of the most dynamic soul performers of the 60's-early 70's, returns, seemingly from oblivion, to demonstrate to a hip-hop-drenched world that every musical form has it's own unique strenghts and gifts to give to the people. In point, Pickett's music on the CD mirrors the great stuff he cranked out of Muscle Shoals in the sixties with Steve Cropper and others, and it's like nothing else on the planet. Nothing, absolutely nothing, moves like soul. And Pickett is one of the kings of the genre. The control of his voice seems better than ever...no one could ever scream better than Wilson....and the choice of material runs the gamut of pure sex, lost love, happy party music, cheatin' songs, and social commentary so well conveyed by soul. Furthermore, when you hear Pickett sing it, you believe it! The recording is clean, without the common gimmickry seen today, and the instrumentation is pure sixties---horns, guitar, bass, drums, backup singers. The faithful probably thought that they'd never hear something like this again. But anyone who goes to the popular movies knows a bunch of soul tunes...they're part of our life's fabric, no matter how old we are. And just when you think that old fabric will crumble from age, Wilson Pickett drops by to weave some new cloth!"
The harder the better!
Howard Huddleston | 10/01/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wilson Pickett's new album proves without a doubt that he is still the prince of soul. It may be harder now, but it still sounds and feels just as real and inspired as any recording from his heyday in the 1960's. I think this album succeeds because it sticks with a recipe that works--the inside cover includes a note from Pickett himself: "This album contains no samples, loops, or digital instruments. All of the music was performed by actual musicians in real time without click tracks." Not many recordings these days could make that claim, and no recording I've heard lately has sounded as alive and authentic--two extremely important characteristics of good soul music. Highly recommended."
This CD is the Real Thing!
Frederick Rudofsky | 09/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's been a modern tragedy that the music and genius of Wilson Pickett has been largely lost, reduced to airplay at sorry college fraternity "retro" parties and the like. These rich southern soul gospel roots deserve much better and "It's Harder Now" is a good start! Today's tin sounding soul pretenders and rappers would be wise to listen and learn from this music and the master! Buy this!"