Gris Gris

Very poorly mixed, some odd stuff going on that isn't really working for me. Vocals strained. Instruments are really lacking in power and it never really gets going.

Qué es esto. Nunca había escuchado nada que sonase así. Graciosísimo el concepto de maestro vudú. A veces suena a música de malo de peli de disney, a veces suena a música de malo de videojuego, a veces suena groovy, a veces suena tribal y en general suena más experimental que el carajo. Ignorando que las voces suenen como si se hubiesen grabado con el micrófono del móvil en 1968, curiosísimo disco, muy divertido. Ni idea de lo que acabo de escuchar.

Recently went down a Dr John listening spree, this was a standout album from him for sure. 4.5

I don't think this music is meant for me, and by music I mean this guy's vocals. The music is ok, I guess, even if it does drag on longer than necessary. I guess this is a bluesy Bayou psychedelic jam? Well, the second song gets better. Probably because Dr. John isn't talking. I like the rhythm. In fact, maybe the music is the only thing for me on this album. It's a 3, then his vocals to it back to a 2. I'm sure he's fun a parties, though.

My guess here is that this album was recorded.while on strong acid. An oddball but cool album.

Was deeply skeptical of this whole thing, but damn it really sustains a mood and atmosphere. Maybe works best when he’s not singing...

Kinda weird, but kinda fun

Not really loving this.

241021 11:02 3.5

Not my favorite Dr John album, but would be good background music

### *Gris-Gris* (1968) – Dr. John, the Night Tripper An in-depth review of the album that dragged New-Orleans voodoo into the psychedelic era. --- ### 1. **Lyrics – Hoodoo Liturgy in Broken English & Creole Spells** - **Vocabulary of spells & street-medicine**: “Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya-Ya” opens with the doctor promising “remedies for all y’all’s ills,” immediately establishing the record as a pharmacopoeia of jive talk, folk-Catholic imagery and voodoo product-placement (gris-gris bags, goofer dust, “mojo eye”). - **Non-linear storytelling**: Instead of verses/choruses we get incantatory lists (“I walk through the fire, children / fly through the smoke…”) that feel improvised during a ceremony. - **Code-switching & micro-dialects**: English, French-Creole, carnival barker slang and jive overlap, giving the text a linguistic swampiness that mirrors the music. - **Hidden social commentary**: Beneath the hokum, tunes like “Mama Roux” lament the closing of the old Storyville dance-halls while “Danse Kalinda Ba-Doom” hints at slave-dance rituals re-packaged for tourists. --- ### 2. **Music – A Séance in 7/4 Time** - **Rhythm section as snake skeleton**: Most tracks ride a loping New-Orleans second-line groove, but tempo is often electronically *slowed* (Vari-Speed) so hand-drums, claves and bass appear to crawl. - **Modal vamps instead of blues changes**: Instead of I-IV-V, songs hover around one minor chord decorated by micro-riffs on clavinet, low-register flute or banjo, creating trance rather than progression. - **Timbre cocktail**: reed organ processed through a homemade ring-modulator, triangle wave generators, bowed double-bass *and* baritone sax giving sub-harmonic “mud,” while Harold Battiste’s piccolo or clarinet supplies *high* insect buzz—producing the swamp-insect nightscape you can actually hear. - **Vocal delivery**: Dr. John’s voice is mixed bone-dry, up-front and slightly over-modulated; he half-speaks, half-sings like a medicine-show priest while background singers (including Jessie Hill & Shirley Goodman) respond in church-fallen-into-river call-and-response. --- ### 3. **Production – Studio as Gris-Gris Bag** Producer Harold Battiste and arranger Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) had three days of leftover studio time at Gold Star in L.A. and a cartload of ideas they couldn’t use on Sonny & Cher sessions. - **Varispeed abuse**: Tapes routinely run at 15 ips then played back at 7½ ips, instantly deepening horns and voices and giving the record its underwater gait. - **Hard-left / hard-right psychedelic panning**: percussion in one ear, organ in the other, creating the dislocated “you’re in the middle of the ritual circle” feel. - **Live floor bleed**: almost everything cut live with minimal overdubbing—room mics capture foot-stomps and murmurs, adding documentary realism to the voodoo theatre. - **First-use of clavinet through a rotating Leslie on a rock record** (later copied by Billy Preston & Stevie Wonder). --- ### 4. **Themes – Identity, Exile & Cultural Re-Enchantment** - **Self-(re)invention**: Mac Rebennack, a white journeyman R&B pianist freshly out of heroin trouble, invents “Dr. John the Night Tripper,” a composite of 19th-century hoodoo doctor John Montaigne and Afro-Atlantic folk imagery—an early concept of musical Afro-futurism. - **Post-Pepper psychedelia meets post-colonial folklore**: the record answers *Sgt. Pepper*’s costume-party surrealism with something blood-and-soil: real diasporic culture filtered through counter-culture paranoia. - **Celebration of “low” culture**: street vendors, Mardi-Indians, back-alley dice games are elevated to shamanic archetypes, predicting the sample-based reverence of later hip-hop and crate-digger culture. --- ### 5. **Influence & Legacy** - **Immediate ripple**: Mick Jagger cited “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” as inspiration for “Sympathy for the Devil” grooves; Paul Weller, The Neville Brothers, Spiritualized, Super Furry Animals and even Cher (who covered “Splinters”) openly borrowed its swamp-gospel atmosphere. - **Hip-hop & sampling**: the hypnotic percussion loop from “Splinters” was flipped by Beck (“Loser”), Oasis (“Go Let It Out”), and countless DJs; it essentially pre-loaded the voodoo palette of 90s trip-hop. - **New-Orleans revival**: alongside The Meters and Professor Longhair, *Gris-Gris* kick-started global interest in modern New-Orleans music, paving the way for funk-jam bands (Galactic, Greyboy Allstars) and HBO’s *Treme* aesthetic decades later. - **Cultural studies**: texts on Afro-Atlantic religion now routinely cite the album as pop-culture evidence of hoodoo’s survival; it’s one of the few rock-era records archived in the Smithsonian’s Folkways playlist. --- ### 6. **Pros & Cons – A Listener’s Field Guide** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | 1. Still sounds *utterly unique*—nothing in 1968 (or 2025) quite matches its humid sonic stew. | 1. Murky fidelity: intentionally distorted vocals and over-cranked tape saturation can fatigue ears on hi-fi systems. | | 2. Brilliant hybrid of styles—Congo Square drums, Delta banjo, modal jazz, early funk—makes 35 minutes feel like a world-music mixtape before that term existed. | 2. Loose song structures; if you crave sing-along choruses or verse-bridge-verse logic, you’ll be lost in the bayou. | | 3. Lyrical mystique invites multiple interpretations; each listen reveals new coded phrases. | 3. Some cultural-appropriation unease: white artist trading in black folk-magic tropes—though most scholars argue Rebennack’s lifelong advocacy for New-Orleans musicians offsets it. | | 4. Production innovations (vari-speed, hard panning, Leslie’d clavinet) became template for psychedelic funk and later trip-hop. | 4. Short running order (7 tracks) may leave you wishing for a second helping just when the trance peaks. | | 5. Stand-alone centerpiece “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” is a 7-minute master-class in slow-burn voodoo groove and has aged better than many 60s “classics.” | 5. Requires *active* listening; works poorly as background music—can feel meandering or even silly if half-heard. | --- ### **Verdict** *Gris-Gris* is less an album than a weather system: humid, slightly dangerous, but life-giving if you surrender to it. Its pros outweigh the cons by a long shot, provided you accept the record on its own occult terms. If rock history were a deck of tarot cards, this would be **The Hanged Man**—suspended, mysterious, demanding you look at music from an inverted angle.

Favorite tracks: Danse Kalimba Ba Doom, Mama Roux, Jump Sturdy

Very odd album. I like his voice but he doesn't really sing any melodies. Mama Roux and Jump Sturdy were both awesome songs, bringing the mediocrity of the rest of the album to a nice and average 3 stars.

Great artist. Throughout his career, he has touched all genres of music, and done them all incredibly well. Congrats on over 50 years of artistry. Great voice, and music.

51/100.

Really good album. More of a ritualistic fever dream than some of his more popular work, the drumming here sort of lures you in throughout. I do like his more upbeat music over this, but this is still really good. He is one of the more unique artist to have made it big. 3.5/5 Will listen again

I like one Dr. John song and it’s not on this album.

3/5

It's if Lou Reed was from San Francisco instead of New York, and did acid instead of heroin. I didn't really enjoy this, but I'm glad I listened to it?

A gris-gris, also spelled grigri, and sometimes also "gregory" or "gerregery" is a talisman that originated in the Muslim Mande communities of Far West Africa and is believed to protect the wearer from evil or bring luck. Due to Atlantic slavery, the use of the gris-gris was translocated to the Americas and became a significant practice in Louisiana Voodoo and Haitian Vodou. It is also used as a purported method of birth control in some countries. It consists of a small cloth bag, usually inscribed with verses from an ancestor and a ritual number of small objects, worn on the person. Dude is trippin' balls throughout this album.

Having recently been to New Orleans this album has a different meaning, which makes sense in a way I don’t think I would have appreciated otherwise. This was definitely different than the psychedelic rock of the time, particularly because it wasn’t exactly psychedelic, just VERY Creole. Of course, the song Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya could easily be argued the other way. This could fit right into the vibe of San Fransisco rock, yet retaining its own regional individuality. I actually really liked this as a cultural and musical concept. Key song for me was I Walk on Guilded Splinters. I have to admit, I don’t know if I have ever heard anything like it, and I would have never looked for it.

Random thoughts: * Surprised to see this album on 1001. I thought it would be the "Right Place Wrong Time" album if they were going to put a Dr. John album on this list. * This was an interesting listen to hear him mix zydeco, bayou, jazz, and rock to create his own sound. I bet this was super unique when it was released. I wonder how this fit into all the other music coming out in 1968( Stone, Beatles, Jimi, Doors, etc). It really makes you appreciate how crazy the late 60s were for music innovation. * I enjoyed the music on this album and was glad I was exposed to it. Highly unlikely to go revisit this album.

This is like Beck meets Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem (from the Muppet Show). The entire album was fascinating. An international flavor with a touch of Pink Floyd's "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun". Not all of the tracks did it for me, but they certainly kept my interest. "Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya", "I Walk On Guilded Splinters", and "Danse Kalinda Ba Boom" were the standouts.

That second line playing. This is great. Walk on guilded splinters is a top20 song. Mack Rebennak conjures the voodoo of New Orleans and magic happens. Bit of filler but what works works. 4

Oh Yeah this sure is different. First listen to a New Orleans R&B with a slow psychedelic curtain breezing through it all. So if this is stoned New Orleans music, then its very good - softly musing if I am likely to have much occasion to listen to it - it seems perfect when matching music to a mellow and breeezy atmosphere, or creating one. its very compelling and so new. I can see why the boys rated it so highly. Not much of this around - so definitely belwongs on a sub-list for people who want to really, really broaden their music horizons. In a quality way. so yes, a 5 as I woudl definitely want this in my collection when I turn off streaming. Because without a subscription, you listen to what you want. for free. and there's radio if you want a change. Did I wander off topic? thats okay, I'm the only one reading here. My reviews are essentially a not eto self and written as such.

I was introduced to this album by Straussy in his run-down flat in Stanmore some time in the early 90s. The flat had previously operated as a small brothel. This did have certain advantages -- discrete entrance, a full bar in the lounge room, and an ensuite in every bedroom -- as long as you could tolerate the occasional gentleman caller turning up in the late evening asking "if Chantelle was working". A firm but polite "no" from Straussy would usually turn them apologetically away. The former use of the apartment lent a slightly disreputable atmosphere, which was a really fitting place to hear Gris Gris for the first time. The record was weird and atmospheric and shady and funky and spaced out, and I really dug it instantly. It is oddly recorded and mixed, especially when compared to everything else coming out of Gold Star Studios in that period, but the playing has a lot of feel. I have subsequently developed a strong taste for New Orleans funk, although you wouldn't necessarily describe this record as typical of the genre. Many of the players on this record are of that scene and tradition and play with that feel, but this record is much more informed by Californian psychedelic culture. I sometimes wonder if record is to New Orleans soul as Captain Beefheart is to blues; a wild and druggy reinterpretation. I really don't like Beefheart, but I dig this. Back when I first heard this in the early 90s, this album was largely out of print and hard to find, and it felt like being introduced to some arcane and obscure secret knowledge. I searched for a long time to find an affordable copy, which I eventually found in the aptly named Mojo Records (yet another long gone vinyl emporium in Sydney). It is now one of my most treasured albums. Five stars.

It's a 3 for novelty value. Not something I'd choose to play on the regular!

First track and last track are atmospheric moody masterpieces. The middle is fine but has less thought i think making this maybe a 33 minute long EP. And this is part of a larger hypothesis I’m working on where I’m finding albums of a certain vintage 60s through the 80’s had one good track, a lot of filler, and maybe a sneaky “okay” song

Utterly bizzare from start to finish. I can imagine this going down well for people on a trip in the 60s, but it’s not doing it for me. In fact, I fully imagine that Dr. John was tripping balls when he made this album. Mama Roux is a decent track where I can see some solid old school blues coming through, and there is a spooky undertone throughout the album that adds an atmosphere to it, but this album is not for me and I can’t say I’ll be remembering much about it.

Because I just listened to Tortoise, I need to remind myself the difference between a 1 and a 2. It still sucks.

Swamp voodoo boogie shit all over the place here. Fun stuff

Unc john heheeh

Dr. John got lazy on this album. Not his best.

The opening notes of the first track immediately suggested rock and roll, so I wasn't that excited, but this record turned out to be excellent. Favourite tracks: all of them!

bisschen seltsam

++*: Mama Roux ++: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya, Croker Courtbouillon, I Walk on Guilded Splinters +: Danse Fambeaux, Jump Sturdy +-: Danse Kalinda Ba Doom 8,2/10

esse me deixou meio dividido, tem umas que são boas, e outras que eu particularmente achei horriveis a ideia é bem legal mas a execução geral me deixou meio pa das ideia

que merda, eu tava bem animado com esse mas eh um r&b bem atmosférico, climinha de enterro no pântano memo. é bacana, mas não me pegou num dia bom não.

Not the best on the list.

It's kind of a cosmic gumbo

The prelude to most of the Dr. John music you *do* know.

I dig the lo-fi sound. Certainly like this Dr John a lot more than the later work I primarily associate with him. Might have to ask ChatGPT about jumping off points from this album.

Can’t believe I liked this as much as I did. Title track and guilded splinters both good. Weird blend of jazz and horror?

Pretty cool and fun, but the whole concept of the persona of "Dr. John, the Night Tripper" feels kinda problematic to me.

03/11/2025 I've heard too much Tom Waits to think this was good, it was not. Spotify listeners: 952.5k

What the

uhhhhhhhhh

i really didn't care for this at first blush, but it got better on repeated listens. very unique sound and album for this list, so i'm on board with that. and it's barely half an hour? excellent stuff. favorites: danse kalinda ba doom, mama roux, danse fambeaux, jump sturdy

Pretty nice experience.

2.8

Just unremarkable

Chato. 5/10

After the first: "YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YA YAAAAAAAA" the album had me. 4 stars.

Feels very Zappa and Captain beefheart but I guess that’s because it’s kind of goofy psychedelic music. A lot of it is random chanting and noises (vocally) but to be fair the calm, jazzy instrumentals in the background were consistently nice but maybe a bit repetitive. The sound quality is a bit lacking but it was made in 68 so it’s more understandable. The feel of the album is where it’s most unique but unfortunately for me it just isn’t as engaging with the actual content of the songs. It is quite short though so it definitely works as a condensed album and I appreciate him not making a double album or something out of this like trout mask replica or something. I liked the context of his name as well being based off a voodoo doctor which really fits this psychedelic, trippy sound. Favourites: Mama Roux and Jump sturdy. Overall, 6/10.

Interesting and out there

Quite enjoyed but realistically unlikely to revisit, bordering a 4

This transported me off to the US Deep South, swamp blues and spiritual voodoo magic, and you get a feeling of cultural significance. This is my introduction to Dr John and favourite songs are Jump Sturdy, and the incredibly strange Croker Courtbouillon, which appears to be about fish soup and for some reason stirred up memories ranging from The Addams Family to Scooby Do. Not entirely my thing, but altogether an intriguing listen.

Cover art freaked me out a little when I first opened this around 4am. It's a good fit for the music. Never heard anything like this.

Quite liked this not my normal music but yeah it’s great

Serve me up a cup of this bayou swamp water. A tip of the cap to Dr. John. He gets his finger shot off and somehow channels it into the birth of voodoo funk. I think I’ll take the moss and mud of this psychedelia over the peers of the time chasing sitars and outer space.

Takie to trochę bez tożsamości. Początkowo brzmiało jak muzyka bezdomnych, doświadczonych życiem tylko po to, aby potem przerodzić się w jakieś afrorytmy, egzotyczne i niedopasowane do przeżartego głosu. Trudno mi zrozumieć tę płytę i cieszę się, że jest już za mną. 5/10

Dr. John fascinates me to no end. Purportedly a shaman who’s dabbled in voodoo, the man personifies the magic of New Orleans from which he hails. This album was awesome and interesting. The cadence and pronunciation of the Dr.’s singing is something I could listen to alone. I love it.

This is great. I heard the name before but not the music. It had a lot of layers to it, will be playing again.

It's okay - no strong feelings.

Strange but damn good

i already heard this earlier this year when exploring this album list on my own. was fairly enjoyable. i'll listen again for rating purposes Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya - 5/5 Danse Kalinda Ba Doom - 3/5 Mama Roux - 4/5 Danse Fambeaux - 5/5 Croker Courtbullion - 4/5 Jump Sturdy - 4/5 I Walk on Guilded Splinters - 5/5 Average score: 4.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is straight up the craziest r&b/soul album I have ever heard. It has those super raw grooves that are very dancable but somehow also very entrancing and hypnotizing. It's like this dude is trying to lure me into some weird cult. Somehow manages to maintain this weird tribal atmosphere for the whole duration of the album. The first few tracks set up this trippy psychedelic atmosphere that feels just insane. The production is raw as fuck, feels like I'm listening to a noise rock album at times, but deconstructed to the minimum. Danse Fambeaux feels like being at a cult meeting and slowly getting intoxicated into its weird shit. Croker Courtboullion makes me feel like I'm haunted, incredibly fascinating and dense atmosphere that this song evokes. Amd the closer is so majestic and creative, the instrumentation is so organic and unique, so many weird instruments coming together so perfectly, it's quite impressive. This album is crazy, especially for 1968. Raw, noisy, addictive and very beautiful. I love his voice, it has this rough around the edges feel that compliments the music incredibly. This is just pure vibes, but very very cryptic vibes. I listened to this 3 times in a row last night and it was quite the experience.

Well this was awesome.

This was alright. I don't love Dr. John's voice and most of the music was just kind of repetitive mantra-like chanting with (admittedly pretty good) backup singers. It wasn't awful or anything, but I don't know, I just didn't hear anything great and by the end I was done with the flavor. Two stars.

9.3/10

Haunting- great for spooky season.

Got psychedelics?

it's weird. it's fascinating. it's annoying. it's smooth. it's everything at once. i've listened to it more often than most other albums of artists i haven't known before.

This album has such a fun, creepy, witchy vibe. I love it. I have a good version of this record on vinyl, but I listed to a high quality digital file with headphones for this session, and there was a lot of new-to-me detail that was revealed this time. I almost want to give this record five stars for its uniqueness, but I'm going to have to go with four. This record scratches a very particular itch, but it just isn't a legendary recording on par with something like Abbey Road, Dark Side of the Moon, or Songs in the Key of Life. Four stars.

It’s as if the clangers dropped acid and recorded an LP. Worst album on here so far

Well, it was weird. Not my particular brand of weird.

If 6 was an option, it would be 6

Holy moly this bored me. 33 mins and felt like double. Groovy sure but SO samey.

Wasn't looking forward to slogging my way through this…Then he started singing and I was like DAMNNNNNNNNN! Then came some Alan Lomax Smithsonian field recording-sounding "song." Then came Mama Roux and I was like DAMNNNNNNNNN! Then more field recordings. Finally, in his greatest contribution to music history, he concludes the album by saying, "Golden teeth and golden tones, welcome to my presence...let there be teeth!" And there was Teeth.

Gave me a new appreciation for the music born out of New Orleans.

Freaky new Orleans swamp jazz

Yeahh i don’t think i get it. I tried! Sorry Dr. John.

Sounds like louisiana, really nails that sound. Doesn’t mean I like it.

Kind of a fun Halloween album. I bet in 1968, stumbling upon this was probably trippy AF.

I enjoyed a few of the bluesier tracks but the mystical video music was a bit too far out for me.

I Only listened to the first song of gris gris, it seems very country like and seemed to have lots of energy. Now that i am writting this i would like to maybe retake my chance with this album after finishing the next one, that is today. Otherwise i wouldnt super rate it without listening to it completly first. Since i would like to atlleast vote im going to vote a 3 star, sorry if this post or review threw you off at first for those who really apreciat this album

expérimental et cool j'ai jamais entendu ce style ambiance qui rendait aussi bien

What an atmospheric album

This was interesting and suitably odd. At first his voice reminded me a little of Don Van Vliet, but as the album progressed I thought that less. There’s a little psychedelia nonsense that overrides this album, but overall I thought it had some substance. Not sure how many times I would revisit it, but it’s a steady 3/5.

Good

what is this..

The music is amazing, the vocals haunt my dreams

I think I must have heard of Dr John via an Old Grey Whistle Test from way back when, probably on some kind of clips show. This was OK and had some interesting moments, but lacks a bit of drive for me. I doubt I’d listen again, but it was pleasant enough.

This record somehow screamed „Beck“ to me. So I investigated and found out that Johnny Jenkins covered Guilded Splinters. And Becks Loser was strongly influenced by it (drum sample and guitar). It’s understanding lineages like this which makes this challenge so rewarding. Besides this: Insanely groovy record (the base!) Stereo separation is too strong and croker courtbouillon is too experimental. Overall more than decent but god why did they settle with this horrible album cover? Did they wanna sabotage themselves?

Mid

No tenía yo el cuerpo para esta vaina

Maso.

Completely unremarkable. Next.

I thought it would like this more. I like plenty of his songs. But it was a bit irreverent

GO WHITE BOY

Vocals grated after a while but love the guitar work

what heck did I just listen too?

What an interesting listen. Unlike most other albums I’ve heard. Enjoyed the journey. Not sure how often I’ll revisit

Sometimes you get three star albums that are just fine, and sometimes you get three star albums that are a wild mix of 'WTF, this is really something' and, well, the same, but in a very bad way. It was clear to me that this was a very interesting album, but it is not the kind of thing you'd put on to have a nice time or in front of people.

I like how weird this is. Like…Louisiana Tom Waits.

All sounds the same. Have seen and have subsequently avoided Dr John at every NO Mardi Gras type event / festival I’ve been too. He’s good for the movement. But once (or twice) you’ve seen him, that’s good enough. 2.75

Ei iskenyt. 2/5.

If Albert Hoffman started a Vodún cult in the bayou, this would be the music that would be playing.

This album made me feel like i was in some back alley off of bourbon street talking to some weird street doctor about second rate LSD.

Some of it was good. Some of it was awful. He whistled, there can be no forgiveness, totally lost me the second he puckered.

dog shit

8/10 Creates an excellent atmosphere and feeling. Can hear these songs in so much of the music that followed it

Album was definetly interesting, not sure it was for me. 3.8/10

Estuvo raro, me hace pensar en drugs

It was kinda funky, I'm not sure when would I listen to this but I guess I didn't mind it

The last song takes it from a 2 to a 3 Still a bit disappointed that this is where we are now. I need greatness, not okayness Id stick this on again if someone asked for it, otherwise, probably not

I thought I would like this. Track 4 kept scaring me. At least it did something. Was this whole album in a made up language?

Didn't get it.

Interesting

This album didn't start well. And there's quite a lot of randomness to the mix. But, the more it went on, the more I enjoyed it. I like the soulful vocals that mix in with the poorly mixed grunts. There was a nice mix of psychadelia in here (without moving into Velvet Underground-esque droning). Terrible artist name, by the way! It's a product of it's time, bit it has aged better than a few other albums I've seen on this list. I liked the array of instruments on 'Croker Courtbullion', the tune could have been used on a James Bond film, but certainly not this recording! Maybe it's parody! In which case, I am all on board for that! It did end in dribble.... Actually, I take that back! Animal noises! But, then it kind of has a nice drums to bring it home (jury is not out yet...) 'Mama Roux' was a nice one. Can we get more albums with Harpsichord!? I was going to say this sits in my catergory of, pleasant experience, but not particularly exciting or stimulating. But actually, I felt while listening there were plenty of moments to enjoy... I'm saying it: 4 Stars!

This album is like sitting in the hostel bar having a beer while some birkenstock-wearing guy in hemp pants and an unbuttoned floral shirt tells the room about how he considers himself more of a 'traveler' than a 'tourist'. You find yourself wondering if all 'travelers' own an Apple Watch, but fearing you are being too cynical, you keep your mouth shut. He proceeds to tell everyone a story about how he was in Bhutan last summer and met an actual shaman. Explaining how this was the most spiritual moment of his life, he proudly claims that he has started to learn how to transverse the axis mundi himself, but of course he's just a beginner. You consider if maybe Bhutan would be a cool place to go and see, but you don't really want to ask this dude for travel tips.

I get it, they did a lot of drugs in the 60s. But at some point when Dr John proposed an album that was to be inspired by the sounds of a busy Mumbhi street market, the chants of Tibetan Monks, the bells and clinks of a Sunday morning religious parade mixed in with southern rock n roll, there needed to be a veto. Im starting to think he may not even be a real Doctor.

2.5 stars

cajun weird

Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya 3.4 Danse Kalinda Ba Doom 3.6 Mama Roux 3.5 Danse Fambeaux 3.5 Croker Courtbullion 3.6 Jump Sturdy 3.4 I Walk on Guilded Splinters 3.7 Score: 3.528571429

Was a good listen, a bit odd at times

For once, this was not my first listen, I like Dr. John; I saw him live once, at Glastonbury, in a spectacularly inappropriate mid-afternoon slot. He was great. So was this. Weird but great.

This is a delightfully weird album with weird, far out soundscape jams. Dr. John's voice is both unique yet familiar & adds alot to the New Orleans flared sound but you can tell it's a Dr. John song. Which can go both ways: good or bad. I guess it depends on how you reacted to this sound. 3

I was expecting fun, “Iko Iko” shit, not heroin music! Did not enjoy this one at all.

Definitely an interesting album, but not in a bad way. Buddy is just having a good time on the bayou. Would revisit. Would definitely do a deep dive into Dr John's other works.

Groved for a couple songs but overall not impressed.

Just odd.

Not for me. 1/5

Liked the first half a lot. Second side tailed off a bit for me. Interested to listen to more similar music. Probably a 7/10 for me.

There's some cool stuff in this album, but this guy's voice annoys me. I didn't really like any of the songs on this album.

Love his voice and the fact that he was, I fact, at least half the criminal huckster he sang about. What a personality. Read up on him.

Interesting deep south blues. Voodoo rock?

Introduces Dr. John character, post-midnight ceremony in the bayou Gumbo ya ya Mama roux

I like

This was a really cool, Tom Waits-y blues album from an artist I’d never heard of. Loved it!

This album is SO weird! Psychedelic rock combined with Louisiana cajun folklore. I love the storytelling and moodiness. There is a whole song just making sounds of the bayou. It feels so unique and fresh, even by today's standards. What a treat!

Decent

Unquestionably iconic and essential. Doesn't really strike me. *3

🐷 Gris gris potatispolis 🐷 Wow, a shameless Aqua ripoff, classy. Time to make some gumbo

I quite liked this on a first listen a few years ago. Maybe my tolerance for experimental has gone down, but I found this quite dull and repetitive. I remembered it as sounding like a proto-Tom Waits, but it lacks interesting instrumentation or any kind of memorable hook.

Not a Magic Mushroom Music kinda guy and that’s what this album is!

Not terrible, but fairly one dimensional. Almost like 1 long rambling Cajun song.

Check it out

I got a contact high from playing this. NEAT

A little too funky for me :/

Ambivalent impression for me. It is an unique album, I don't remember listening to anything similar to this. But, at the same time, I did not connect that much with it.

This ain't for me. I just don't like it. It's interesting, but in the same way that Throbbing Gristle is.

I’m sure this is awesome for someone….i am not that someone

Classic NOLA

You certainly can't fault this album for consistency of mood and subject matter. Dr. John is the baddest witch doctor in the swamp, and he's going to spend the whole record telling you all about it, over a deeply eerie bed of orchestration that sounds like it was recorded in a rotting juke shack, or possibly on a flatboat off a bayou sandbar. For pure character and vibe, it scores impossibly high marks. The songs may not all be particularly special, but the grooves spool out like clouds of herbal smoke, while languid solos, bird songs, hand drums, and tolling bells drift in and out of the murk. There really isn't anything like this out there, as far as I've ever heard - it's a cinematic character portrait of a true American oddball original.

Loved this - felt like a companion piece to Exile On Main Street. Dirty and frayed at the edges.

Very nice, heavy blues. Proto rap. Like it but a little too hot and miss for me.

The album started off pretty well, but then things got a bit weird and there were just a bunch of sounds, so at first it was great and then very bad. Overall, a bit less that meh.

This one's a wild ride.

Failed to chart when it came out. I wonder why.

Voodoo man got friends on the other side

I only really knew of his later stuff from programs like OGWT. This was a nice surprise - chaotic and percussive. Definitely an influence on later Tom Waits.

THIS is the kind of thing I wanted to come across doing this. What a wierd and wonderful album. Production is very rough around the edges but the mix of blues, soul, gospel, psychedelia is unlike very much I’ve ever come across before. Absolutely loving ‘I walk on gilded splinters’ in particular.

I went into this expecting it to be very bad but what a surprise it was just very mid instead. Yk this might be a good album without Dr John cuz this guy can not sing and just says random noises that piss me off. I’ll give the credit for them crafting some great background sounds and instrumentals to make it not as boring but still not enjoyable for it to be a 3/5. Overall I’m feeling a 4/10 2/5

If this was an experimental album, the experiment failed. When I finally noticed I was liking a song turns out the album had ended and gone to a new artist.

3/5

Odd experiment, like the sound of a voodoo Jethro Tull

I was previously familiar with Dr. John but not this particular album. This album is pretty good, sound is typical for Dr. John. Mostly catchy but some weird parts. Overall it is good, and I would listen again.

Wide world of music and still a down home feel

Rare hippiemeuk, met samenzang, gerommel, oerwoudkreten en dierengeluiden. Het moet allemaal klinken alsof ze rond een groot kampvuur dansen, zo lijkt het. Het resultaat is soms irritant, soms wel aardig, met name het laatste nummer (dat ik kende van een cover door Paul Weller) zet de sfeer nog het beste neer. Eentje om misschien nog eens vaker te beluisteren.

De speelse klanken, die alleen in de jaren '60 mogelijk waren, komen je tegemoet. Iets waar ik zelf niet van houd. Maar toch moet ik bekennen dat de plaat mij niet alleen irriteert en mij zelfs ergens wel pakt. Een genre-hater bereiken. Dat is knap! Maar John lijkt daar ook alle moeite voor te hebben gedaan. Het zeer psychedelische karakter is zeker niet ten kostte gegaan van de muzikale kwaliteit en hij heeft een bijzonder prettige balans gevonden met de irritante en toch pakkende (vaak hese) zang. John zet hiermee een unieke sfeer neer. Iets wat ik altijd waardeer. Ik heb zelfs nog even de proef op de som genomen of ik het twee maal kon luisteren. Maar nee, dat is teveel. Zeer terecht opname in de lijst, maar slechts 3 sterren van mij.

Dr John is zo'n naam die je wel vaker (bijv uit de mond van Don Leo Blokhuis) hebt gehoord, maar totaal niet kan plaatsen. Ik denk dat het enige bekende nr "Such a Night" is, maar dat staat niet op dit album. Ik ben daarom benieuwd naar wat de beste man in petto heeft. Vanaf de eerste klanken doet het me experimenteel en psychedelisch aan. Ik denk gelijk aan tijdgenoten Zappa en Capt Beefheart. En dat is niet echt positief. Hij trekt vervolgens een blik wereldmuzikanten open, New Orleans stijl lees ik, zo te horen een melting pot vol Afrikaanse en Caribbische invloeden. Mama Roux is meer herkenbaar, dit had ik min of meer verwacht. Het lijkt of we alle substijlen die in de muziek verwerkt zijn, wel eens eerder gehoord hebben. Maar Dr John verwerkt het wel tot een prima geheel. Ik zou bijna zeggen, een eigen geluid. Het is een beetje vaag, maar ik kan er desondanks wel naar luisteren. Het doet me ook heel funky aan namelijk en die platen bevallen me stiekem meestal wel. Psychedelisch, wereldmuziek, soul, funk, blues, experimenteel. Toch leuk om kennis mee te maken. Het kan een 4 worden, maar ook een 2. Maken we er een 3 van.

Light 3. Very interesting, I’ll give it that, just a little too out there at times.

This has got some cool parts, even though I do not like it that much over all. But it's interesting to see the originals of samples e.g. "Guts - Endless night" (2007) when this is from 68

This was a really weird one. Quite interesting in concept and execution. Entertaining as far as that goes, but not really pleasant listening. A good experience, but won't revisit.

Love the unique vibe

Not for me.

This album is... unique? It’s hard to describe it; I can’t say I’d heard anything quite like it before. It sounded like an occult ritual or something. But as for the positives, that's kind of it. It wasn't sonically offensive in any way, but there just was nothing that stood out to me. It’s easy to listen, and I wouldn’t call it boring, but it’s way to quiet and uneventful. 5/10

Too spooky for me

2.0 - Weak

2.6 2x on the cusp of a 2 star but just decent enough

Listens: 3 Standout tracks: Danse Fambeaux, Jump Sturdy, I Walk on Guilded Splinters I enjoyed this. It was weird. I felt like I was witness to a Witch Doctor Vodo ceremony. Otherworldly almost. Danse Fambeaux sounds very old-country (Gypsy music?) - where the old country is the southern bayou Louisiana. Crocker Courtbullion has some weird parts where it sounds like he's calling a cat pst pst pstpstpst pst. Jump Sturdy has great chorus and backing vocals and the lyrics themselves are great.

- nicht so schlecht, wie erwartet, als ich das Albumcover gesehen habe, aber so richtig holt es mich jetzt auch nicht ab - immerhin schön kurz 2-3/5

I wasn't familiar with Dr. John and Gris-Gris until now. After three tracks, I stopped listening to the album. It's not my thing, not my kind of music. It got on my nerves. 2/5

Odd, but the kind of odd I dig.

5/10

Facinating little trip here. Maybe literally. This interesting, but short bluesy rock record feels like if you were wondering wonderland with alice after you took some shrooms while someone put on a slowed down version of sympathy for the devil. And i like it. Croker courtbullion is a little too experimental for my taste, but all the other tracks have a cool vibe.

This one has a bit too much of that Dr. John hip tang for my tastes.

I personally couldn’t listen to even 1 song. Not my style.

It’s cool and also it’s trippy.

Based on what I'd heard before, I thought I liked Dr. John. I still like those songs. This bunch of noodling and pseudo-voodoo BS is different. Ugh.

4/5 - I needed to hear this because I didn't know psychedelic voodoo was a thing. I thought it was trouble after the first track, but it got a lot more tuneful after that. The music here has a real "feel" and rhythm that I don't think I have the words to describe; it just kinda makes you move. "Mama Roux" and "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" were the standout tracks for me.

Get me whatever Dr. John's on. I hate that I universally dig dudes that sound like Beefheart (psychopaths) - the weird acid bayou-soul sound absolutely fuckin makes this, don't know if I've ever heard anything like it. Totally gonna listen again and this might get better with time

I was fine listening to it. 1/4

As a low down man from da bayou, this really reminded me of home

early John - pretty OK

I don't think there's much else like this. Spooky, groovy weirdness. Sometimes it sounds like everyone is playing a different song - in a good way. A hell of a trip.

Very interesting sounds.

Couple decent songs, mostly crap

Sorry not for me. Some groovy moments but could not really get on board with the voodoo hoodoo bullshit.

Gris Gris I’m pretty familiar with this, I love Dr John’s New Orleans R’n’B-psychedelic-folk-funk-soul, and the late night Louisiana Bayou atmospheres with a great foreboding swampiness, and this is a very enjoyable album, even if it it’s doesn’t always maintain the heights of the first few tracks and the superlative Walk on Guilded Splinters. Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya is a fantastic, superbly atmospheric with the harmonica riff and the loping, grooving bass line and general sense of eeriness. Danse Kalinda, expands on that eeriness, taking tribal rhythms and percussion and vocal chanting to make another superbly atmospheric track. Mama Roux is more conventionally R’n’B, grooving along on a charmingly breezy organ part. I get Death of a Clown from the opening to Danse Fambeaux and moments of Another Day in Paradise towards the back end as it also recalls the first two tracks. The spooky nighttime ritualistic vibes return in Croker Courtbullion, the nursery rhyme melody evoking a great sense of disquiet. It gets a bit Minnie the Moocher on Jump Sturdy, a direct nod to New Orleans R’n’B, which I like even if I’m not totally a fan of it. I Walk on Guilded Splinters is the obvious standout, a truly fantastic song, and one that has inspired some excellent cover versions. Paul Weller’s most obviously, but Cher has an excellent version and there’s a super one by Johnny Jenkins, with Duan Allman, which was sampled for Go Let It Out. While I’m not sure everything lands totally I love that this is not really like many other albums, all the varying influences and histories of New Orleans and Louisiana all put together in a brilliantly creepy serpentine melange (if only there was a culturally relevant word for this), evoking ghostly musical sounds heard from the other side of the bayou, with lamplights glimpsed between the trees and mists, as the percussion gets louder…. For the overall atmosphere and uniqueness and for two stellar tracks in Gris Gris and Guilded Splinters I think I’ll just tip this from a high 4 to a 5. 🌉🌉🌉🌉🌉 Playlist submission: I Walk on Guilded Splinters

My immediate point of reference when listening to the opening track was Live and Let Die. Lines like "I got remedies to cure all y'alls ills!" could be uttered by Baron Samedi (in the complex, with the proximity mines). It's so hammed-up that it could even be Papa Lazarou. However, the more the album develops, and the more I read about the good Dr, the more it made sense, the more I liked it. This isn't someone looking to exploit a culture. His network of musicians from the New Orleans diaspora, steeped in local musical tradition, provide a real authenticity. It really is a great ensemble piece. It's probably the best concept album I've heard. A dark world of characters delivered with eerie timbres. It goes from foreboding ritualistic chants on 'Danse Kalinda Ba Doom', to the irresistible Southern groove of 'Mama Roux', the hypnotic classic soul of 'Danse Fambeaux', the single-worthy 'Jump Sturdy', with banjo and what sounds like a deepened clarinet, (and has the bounce of Fats Domino almost, but with the foreboding rnb undercurrent). And 'Croker Courtbullion' is like a murder mystery soundtrack, full of delicious intrigue. The flute is eerie but carnivalesque, with accompanying organ punctuating the suspense. Superb. The whole thing is eccentricity different and marvelous.

A ramshackle mishmash of various American musical styles that sounds more like a field recording than something that was done in an actual recording studio. Central to this collection is singer/songwriter Mac Rebennack's alter ego "Dr. John", a persona (verging on stereotype) who isn't compelling enough to carry a single song, let alone an entire album.

Appreciate what he was doing but not me

this was really fun, it had the vibes of one of the 60s era disney movies singing about the characters...i started getting into it and vibing and grooving....

confused by the vibes but like... it was enjoyable! then i saw this is from nola and was like ohhhhhhh right.... now it makes sense. still need half stars cause this is 2.5 for ME

More interesting than enjoyable. Can I call this proto-Tom Waits? Probably not but it sounds like it must have influenced him a lot. I found this a bit dull overall. The sparse instrumentation and repetitive nature of the 8 minute closer nudged it from 3 to 2

Haunted in a wonderful way

1.5 That was something

Serial killer music

Meh

Really cool! 3.5/5

Really thought I would have liked this more. No real songs, just atmospheric sound track to a New Orleans swamp

The soundtrack for the villain in a New Orleans-themed musical.

This is very creative and original. Plus, it is fun to listen to. I really liked it!

With the exception of the BRILLIANT Walk on gilded splinters, it's a passable album that doesn't really have much in the way of hooks or memorable songs, but the vibe is impeccable. It's just such a glorious, juju-drenched vibe that was pleasant to luxuriate in, even if I'd have little interest in hearing the songs covered...

fine

Dr. John is an absolute legend. This isn't my favorite of his but a wild exploration of some spooky and weird music. Walking on guilded splinters and the title track are top notch but the rest fails to really meet those highs. A fun record to throw on in the background for a Halloween party.

Mi è piaciuto molto. Sicuramente vorrei riascoltarlo ed esplorare altri suoi album

A sometimes okay combination of musical styles. The other times it’s pretty unpleasantly cacophonous. It didn’t strike me as particularly original. I heard a lot of similarities from earlier recordings.

All the songs had similar pacing and stuff

Day 7 First listen- Enjoyed listening to it, trippy. Had its highs and lows! Some songs were very interesting and fun while some were sorta boring. Highlights- Jump Sturdy, Croker Courtbullion. (3/5)

This album was fine! I liked the overall genre of songs but some of them had vocals I didn't enjoy.

Ich hab’s nicht so aufmerksam gehört aber im Hintergrund fand ich’s ganz gut! Angenehm kurz

Zum Teil sehr experimentell, dann wieder überaschend groovy. Fav: I Walk on Guilded Splinters

Not bad. It’s definitely a little weird.

Weird, psychadelic, mellow, great fun

Weird ass album, but it kind of grew on me as I listened to it. Soooooo 60s, and sooooo psychedelic, and also was Dr. John white..?? But also, The Big Easy's one of my favorite cities on the entire planet, so you know I gotta put some respect on him for representing. God-awful album cover. Fave songs: - Mama Roux - I Walk on Guilded Splinters

Fun album! I saw "psychadelic" and 1968 and thought 'oh god, here we go again.' But this wasn't that at all. It was sludgy, jazzy, voodoo cosplay fun! It felt very underground, and that certainly added to its appeal. This is the kind of weird, fun album that I started this project to find!

Love Dr. John's voice. Love his style.

This album reminded me a lot visiting New Orleans, but also watching Treme and other NOLA set shows and movies (often featuring Dr John). It was a lot of fun, but for some reason I was left wanting more. I can’t actually explain it, but maybe it was the psychedelic parts that I wanted less of, and more of the Cajun rhythms. It’s a 3.5 for me that I’ll bump up to a 4.

The idea of an artist channeling their city's essence through their music is one I find quite romantic, and Dr. John succeeds in doing so on Gris Gris, stirring up a swampy cauldron of New Orleans R&B and voodoo-tinged psychedelia bubbling over with reverence for his roots.

SOUNDS LIKE GUMBO

A bit too experimental for my tastes, but there's some good musicianship in there, too.

I don’t even know what to say. It’s some very niche folk music I guess

This was good. I like the vibe, there’s some funky weirdness going on here that’s part voodoo, part psychedelic. Cool vibe. Not great, but solidly good.

I have never heard a Dr. John record and this is about what I expected it to be. It's a Louisiana acid trip, basically. This is just not for me. If I were to make a list of cliched song titles from a 60's artist who is making "Bayou rock" then many of these titles would possibly make the list. Danse Fambeaux Mama Roux I Walk on Guided Splinters These are the three songs I enjoyed and I had to work to justify my like for them. Nothing against Dr. John but I in no way connect with this music.

very atmospherical, feel like im in a hut in the swamps. reminds me of funkadelic in some spots

It's a little too weird for me. Some songs feel like they are moreso trying to create a sound than make a song.

There are too many Baby Boomer music critics. Dr. John is a one-hit wonder novelty at worst and a niche act at best. Professor Longhair would like a word about who belongs in this list representing the New Orleans sound. This is just psychedelic music from New Orleans in Creole, homegrown World music. I wish this had Right Place Wrong Time on it. I'm counting the minutes until this album is over which is bad for a 33 minute effort. Of course it ends with an almost 8 minute song.

odd one

Err

Reminds me of Tom Waits - which is no bad thing indeed!

First impression pre listen: Seems really campy so it looks like it's gonna be interesting at least. I have no idea what to expect from this, but if the execution is right the creepy witch doctor themes could turn out to be really fun. I really like the odd theatricality of the album cover, it just has this really silly energy about it. Never heard of this artist before so at least it will be a new discovery for me. And even if it's bad at least it's quite short. Individual track notes: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya Leaning very hard into this witch doctor character. It's very weird. I kinda like the bluesy backing track. As I'm not really engrossed in the cultural context behind this I'm really struggling to take this seriously. A bizzare experience. Definitely very psychedelic. Fine. 3/5 Danse Kalinda Da Boom Really unique sounding track. Love the rhythm and the strange instrumental passages. Sounds really dark and mysterious. Love the almost chant-like vocals. The hollow metal percussive elements add a lot to the spooky atmosphere of the track. Genuinely quite inspiring. Fantastic. 5/5 Mama Roux Really fun song. Sounds almost effortless. Great little jazzy instrumental with a charismatic vocal performance. Infectious and catchy. Great. 4.5/5 Danse Fambeaux Spooky atmosphere. Really like the haunting and hypnotic background vocals. Fun bass. Love the strange instrumentation. Awesome energy from the background vocalists. The bell effect is an interesting aesthetic choice. Good. 4/5 Crocker Courtbullion Weird. Psychedelic and chaotic. Feels very improvisational. Great bass. Extremely ominous sounding at times. Animal sounds? Don't know what to call that. Definitely an experience. Decent. 3.5/5 Jump Sturdy Spooky and haunting. I like the bluesy, mystical vibe. Has some moments where it almost sounds normal. Decent. 3.5/5 I Walk on Gilded Splinters Great drumming. Really atmospheric. I like the almost chant like chorus. Enchanting and hypnotic. Great pacing. Great. 4.5/5 Final Review: Well that was fucking weird. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. I went into this list looking for new and unique listening experiences, and with this album I got exactly that. It's dark and spooky with an interesting swampy concept of this occult voodoo witch doctor figure, enchanting and deceiving you deeper into his mystical world. And that's where this album shines. In this a campy, theatrical fantasy version of the bayou, you're taken on a weird adventure through janky and strange instrumentation and chant-like vocals. It's at times hypnotic and entrancing and with Dr. John's almost spoken delivery it feels like you're taking part in some underground ritual. You get some jazz and you get some blues as well as some rootsy worldly soundscapes that are performed with passion and soul. And while the recording does sound crusty and dated I genuinely think it adds some charm to the experience, which would not be present with newer slicker production. If you're looking for a short and fun psychedelic late '60s album I'd definitely recommend this one. For me it's not an all time favourite, but it remains a very memorable discovery from the journey so far. 4/5

"I Walk On Gilded Splinters" is an absolute classic. The rest of the album is pretty damn good, too. Would have loved to see a live show from Dr. John and his band.

This album is cool, but I feel it needs a heavy amount of drugs to feel totally effective.

New Orleans you say?

This feels like something a cult would listen to

Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya - You can feel Dr. John's later work in this but it is clearly the genesis, a stepping off point. Brilliant. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom - Mystical, it feels like you're observing a voodoo ritual. Mama Roux - Suddenly upbeat and showing hints of Right Place Wrong Time and the first track to be recognisable as a song. Danse Fambeaux - Heading back into the trance. Croker Courtbullion - The intro sounds like Golden Brown by The Stranglers. The song sounds like you're having a bad trip. Walk on Guilded Splinters - The trip is ending. Great, full of the mysticism, unconventional instrumentation and feel that Dr. John was known for throughout his career.

a short album at 7 songs over 33 minutes, but really there are only 2-3 songs in slightly different configurations. the Dr. John the Gris Gris man schtick would have been good for a single song perhaps, but not enough to wrap a whole album around. nothing I would ever want to listen to again, though it wasn't torture to make it through.

Unusual, skilled, fascinating

De gehele atmosfeer is goed cohesief. Vond de liedjes wel enorm langdradig. Maar het was wel een chill album maar niet een waar ik weer naar zou luisteren

🐸

This is some weird uncanny valley Blues Rock. It definitely sounds like swamp voodoo music. I don't know exactly how someone came up with this, but drugs must've been involved. I very much liked it. There's so much blues or blues-adjacent rock on this list, at least this one does something unique and memorable with it. But that typeface is soooo ugly! Key tracks: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya Mama Roux

What a gem. I heard a bit over the years but nothing like this fantastic moody deep fun journey. It’s a keeper.

Maybe I shouldn't read reviews on her before listening. Because so many reviews on here reference to this album being spooky. This really got my hopes up. A New Orleans style spooky album? Sign me up. I have no idea where any of those reviews are coming from. Nothing spooky about this. It is decent though.

point8.

Gonzo

Awful

Not really my thing... I found it interesting and atmospheric but just ok so more of a 5/10

Definitely unique - Bur I just wasn’t feeling it. Seemed kinda schticky.

This was some real high, tripped out shit. There was an occasional flash of psychedelic interest, but it was mostly repetitive and had me thinking amateur hour more than classic album.

Too much mojo for me.

Better than I expected, but I did not care for it.

Not my thing

Psycheldelic RnB -sowas habe ich auch noch nicht gehört. Auf eine sehr eigene Art unterhaltsam. Wild, spannend - nichts für jeden Tag. 3/5

A Blues album that explores the heart an history of Blues.

Tom Waits goes to South America. 6/10

Really not my vibe. I get the musicianship and those who like him but that sound has never worked for me

Yes

Ok what is going on here, this is the second album in a row with a song that says Wham Bam Thank You Mam multiple times. Song #3

Did not like this. There were some cool moments but ultimately I probably wouldn’t listen again if it was my choice.

What a trip. It's Zappa or Captain Beefheart adjacent without the weird turned up to 11.

Kind of sounds what I imagine New Orleans to sound like. I dig the tribal drumming and the patois. The good songs were Gris-Gris, Mama Roux, Walk on Guilded Splinters.

nakon cile mise oko psihodelije, ovo je sjajno

Prvih četri pet dr. Johnova su odreda nevjerojatni, hipnotički albumi ali s ovim je sve počelo. Po meni top dvadeset albuma šezdesetih bez većeg beda. I btw nema boljih albuma za slušat na slušalice od ovih iz šezdesetih. Morali su štedit kanale pa su su hard panirali u livo ili desno. Iz čega se naravno izrodila psihodelija.

Dr. John is here to prescribe you an anxiety ridden fever dream and he is gonna play that shit on repeat until you agree it’s at least a 4 star. The more I listen, the more I understand the medicinal value of Gris-Gris. 4 stars

Wow, Gris-Gris really surprised me! I honestly didn't expect it to be so trippy, but I absolutely love it. This album is odd, weird, fun – all of the above, and it just works. And Dr. John's voice? What more can you say? It's utterly mesmerizing. It pulls you right into his world. This album is a solid 4 stars all day long. The Dr. has definitely arrived!

👍

I ... did not love this. There is something about it that makes it a bit like, I can't describe it really, like the vibe is just kind of off for me, as if it were all a bit too experimental, which sometimes can be a good thing, but sometimes just doesn't quite work. For me, I think there is something to be said for the other million artists and bands of that decade that puts this into a kind of more obscure place than many others that edge it out, sometimes by a lot.

Some weird psychedelic sample based stuff that was unique but not all that coherent.

Never really got Dr. John. This album is murky and messy, and for me not in a good way. It’s extremely lo-fi, maybe they didn’t have very good equipment, or maybe it was intentional, I don’t know. But for me it was hard to even hear a lot of it.

Best Song: I Walk on Guilded Spiders This was ok at best, it goes from bluesy to weird really quick. I just don't see myself ever listening to it again.

This album is pretty weird. A swampy new Orleans blues album with some psych and occult elements. Pretty cool concept but fails to keep much of my attention 6/10 Favourite: I Walk on Gilded Splinters Least Favourite: Mama Roux

Nyt ollaan kyllä taas siellä osastolla, oudoimpia levyjä tällä listalla. Tosi jännää ja nimenomaan jännää psykedeelistä musiikkia joka varmaan rokkia on pohjimmiltaan, mutta tosi natiivin kuuloista. Voodoo musiikkia. Häröä ja outoa, mutta mielenkiintoisella tavalla hyvää. Parhaat: Danse Kalinda Ba Doom, Croker Courtbullion

Strange one. I felt like I was in a swamp... filled with drugs

Lite tokig. Lite chill. Lite vibes. Lite, undrar vad det här betyder

Voodoo magic…

Captain Beefheart's psychedelic counterpart, prefigurement of late-style Tom Waits, and bayou-gris-gris shaman, Dr. John is a genius of mood and experience. The blues has never come w/ as many health benefits or heart balms before: 'If you work too hard and you need a little rest try my utilize rub put some on my drop fix and jam, put some in your breakfast.' But it's not really the blues, nor is it merely psychedelia-flavored New Orleans R&B - it seems to me an intimation of 70s funk in a special way. The thematic oddities, the spiritual levity, the outlandish but incredibly tight production all point to something beyond 60s rock. Somewhere between Sun Ra and Parliament-Funkadelic, this has the metaphysics + a narcotic festivity.

It was unique...I'm not sure if I liked it or not.

A few okay songs, but it got really weird...

It takes me places every time

Sad boy stuff the night tripper! He completely reinvented himself for this album and created a persona that brought New Orleans to the world for generations. Mac was the real deal and this became a life of cultural history and performance art that is amazing. Gris Gris is real, weird, heavy, psychedelic, and soulful. Every song has a place in creating the Big Bang that was De. John The Night Tripper

Didn't interest me at all. Dull.

It took me one or two songs to get used to the mood and production. Then, after the "What's this all about?" I got more and more into the album. I don't find it outstanding, but it became more listenable for me. 2/5

This is weird I did not enjoy tbh

Whoah this is awesome. How have I never heard of this before? Crazy that this came out in 1968.

Good tunes thx

Sucked.

ok