| Witness | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2 June 2017 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 32:07 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Sam Cohen | |||
| Benjamin Booker chronology | ||||
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Witness is the second studio album by American musician Benjamin Booker. It was released on 2 June 2017 by ATO Records and Rough Trade Records. [1]
Witness was announced with the premiere of its title track on March 9, 2017. Booker published an essay alongside the announcement, detailing the experience that led him towards writing the album's title track. [2] The title track's references to police brutality and activism garnered Booker coverage in politically leaning outlets including Mic, which noted the album's “urgent synthesis of blues, gospel and soul — forms with long histories of translating black pain into uplifting and enduring compositions … with a raw and unforgiving candor that's reminiscent of downtown New York punk. [3]
The opening track "Right on You" was shared on April 19 by The Fader, which called it "a staticky, high-tempo ballad that packs a punch". [4] The third song to be released from the album, "Believe", was premiered by TIME on May 23. [5] In the run-up to the album's release WNYC released a statement about it, describing Booker as “a punk & grit-infused songwriter whose ecstatic and soulful sounds channel vintage soul-rock, gospel, and blues.” [6]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100 [7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Exclaim! | 7/10 [9] |
| Pitchfork | 8.1/10 [10] |
Upon its release Witness generally received positive reviews from contemporary critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 79, based on 15 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [7]
In a review for AllMusic, editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described that "Blues remains [Booker's] foundation and he can still indulge in squalls of noise, but there's a heavy soul vibe here and, crucially, Booker is embracing modern production. That much is clear from the way "Right on You" opens with burbling electronics before descending into a rocking riff that grooves harder than anything on his debut. Witness is filled with these kinds of left turns, ranging from the folk-soul of "Motivation" and the old-fashioned Southern soul of "Believe" to the psychedelic thrum of "Truth Is Heavy." This aural variety alone would make Witness an exciting record, but when these sounds are paired with probing political and personal songs, the album becomes something fresh and vital."
Contributor H. Drew Blackburn stated in his review for Pitchfork, that it “makes retro music feel modern, reflecting on racism in America while drawing on blues, soul, and gospel.” [10]
Exclaim! writer Ryan B. Patrick wrote: "Witness owes its imperfect existence to garage-punk, psychedelic Afro-rock and the overarching and heartbreaking sentiment that ours is a system that we might not get out from under anytime soon." [9]
All tracks are written by Benjamin Booker
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Right on You" | 2:33 |
| 2. | "Motivation" | 3:32 |
| 3. | "Witness" (featuring Mavis Staples) | 2:57 |
| 4. | "The Slow Drag Under" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "Truth Is Heavy" | 3:54 |
| 6. | "Believe" | 3:54 |
| 7. | "Overtime" | 4:04 |
| 8. | "Off the Ground" | 2:26 |
| 9. | "Carry" | 3:21 |
| 10. | "All Was Well" | 1:53 |
Credits adapted from Rough Trade Records. [11]
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in African-American communities throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became popular for dancing and listening, and U.S. record labels such as Motown, Atlantic and Stax were influential in its proliferation during the Civil Rights Movement. Soul also became popular worldwide, directly influencing rock music and the music of Africa. It had a resurgence in the mid-to late 1990s with the subgenre neo soul, which incorporated modern production elements and hip hop influences.
Maggot Brain is the third studio album by the American funk rock band Funkadelic, released by Westbound Records in July 1971. It was produced by bandleader George Clinton and recorded at United Sound Systems in Detroit during late 1970 and early 1971. The album was the final LP recorded by the original Funkadelic lineup; after its release, founding members Tawl Ross (guitar), Billy Nelson (bass), and Tiki Fulwood (drums) left the band for various reasons.
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Afro rock is a style of rock music with African influences. Afro rock is a dynamic interplay between Western rock music and African musical elements such as rhythm, melodies and instrumentation. Afro rock bands and artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s included Osibisa, Assagai and Lafayette Afro Rock Band.
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Benjamin Booker is an American musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He cites The Gun Club, Blind Willie Johnson and T. Rex as influences. His music was described by the Chicago Tribune as "a raw brand of blues/boogie/soul,", by The Independent as "frenzied guitar-strumming and raw, soulful vocals that are hair-raising in intensity" and by Spin as "bright, furious, explosive garage rock."
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