Gris Gris

This one surprised me. Half of the time I was wondering why I was listening to it. But then occasionally it would have a song that I really enjoyed. It's a strange album.

60s New Orleans Folklore. Not bad by any means, but so far from my own tastes that I found listening to be quite tedious. 2/5

Very odd album

an old white creole mumbling

Struggled a bit to be honest. This one hasn't aged very well

I’m not really sure what to call this genre but it’s not really my thing

Niet echt mijn ding.

Bit weird but loved the album cover.

Not my kind of music. Too weird and experimental. It was not horrible to listen to, just not for me.

Eh.

What can I say, they smoked a lot of weed in the 60s. Actually he lost me in the first song when he suggested that you ask him about ways to "control" "your" "bad" woman.

New Orleans R&B, psychedelic funk, swamp blues, pero rollo.

Pfftt

I like Dr John, but far prefer his more piano oriented work, especially the Dr John’s Gumbo album. That said, this is an interesting listen at least, and I quite enjoyed Jump Steady.

Apparently this psychedlic bullshit never charted when it came out, but I bet it had wicked underground cred. The voodoo thing is pretty silly/camp in retrospect, given even disney popstars hold satanic rituals and fuck the upholstery in their music videos in 2022, but if you were a 16-year-old girl in 1968, running away from home to go shoot heroin with your late-20s boyfriend in his shitty van/squat, this would have been THE soundtrack. 2/5.

Someone may have taken a little too much acid.

feels like I'm in the South somewhere and have stumbled across some black magic fuckery. Problem is I'm not much into that so its a 2 for me. Don't hate it but wont ever go back to it again

Okaaay… Confusion aside, the album starts with a song called Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya It’s unsettling to say the least, especially with the verses. The song is very slow and druggy a bit odd for an opener. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom again is really odd honestly it’s quite good on the drum department but shit on the lyrical department. Mama roux is the most “ normal” song of the album so far still druggy but a kinda normal level. Danse Fambeaux is okay just dr John talking behind an instrumental and the normal backing vocals which I must admit I don’t like at all to be fair even on the other tracks. Starting side two is Crocker Courtbullion a nearly 6 minute track consisting of mostly instrumental work and a few of the backing singers scattered around, yeah not a fan. Jump sturdy (like mama roux) is much more normal it’s mostly just repeating but there’s a good enough verse honey don’t mind it. The album ends with the song I walk on guilded splinters it’s just like everything else but really slow and 7 minutes long. So I didn’t like it but i’am not a druggy so you know it’s not really for me. It’s weird enough to keep it out of my 1’s though.

GRIS-gris is the debut album from Dr. John. Not his real name, and not a real doctor, but the character is based on a 19th century voodoo doctor. The music on this album is New Orleans R&B / swamp blues / psychedelic funk. The album failed to chart or garner much attention at release, but was re-released around 30 years later to praise from modern critics. This has been hailed as a classic from the psychedelic era, and it's extraordinary in that it fuses psychedelia with funk and R&B from the bayou. The modern reviews love this album and tote it as one of the best pieces of psychedelia, but I just don't get it. For me, most of the songs sound the same and only the first track stuck out to me as interesting. Perhaps one needs to be high to really appreciate this album, or maybe I don't have a taste for New Orleans R&B music.

Dr. John is like the Bayou Bob Dylan. Take some drugs, mumble some shit into the microphone that only makes sense to you, and become a cult music hero. It's fun, but it's weird.

04/24/2022 Bizarre. Something I'd never listen to. 1000% need to be on drugs to enjoy this album. Manson family realness.

Listened to on 4/6/22 2/5 Favorite song: Jump Sturdy Very random mix of sounds and reggae music = chaotic album with songs that were too long…why is this song SEVEN MINUTES

Mjuuh, tykkään kyllä outoilusta mutta tää ei ollu ihan mun tyylistä outoilua.

Joitain siistejä juttuja, mutta ei ehkä ollu ihan oikea mielentila tälle.

Ihan kivaa psykedeliaa mutta ei ollut musta kovinkaan kiinnostava. 2/5.

2, quite bad.

2/5 not good

Didn't enjoy

It’s a very experimental album which isn’t bad in my opinion just not for me

This one was really hard to rate. There is something good about this yet it feels a bit too raw and weird.

Pop psicodélico con ritmos africanos. No destaca en nada y no lo veo tan influyente

Rock psicodélico. Rarito.

Maybe hearing these songs after a few drinks and in a New Orleans bar would leave me feeling more satisfied - sadly I’m not there.

It was alright. Nothing special. Left me wanting more, but not enough

This Creole jazz LP struggles to string even 30 minutes of runtime together without feeling threadbare and hollow.

The album has new orleans style of music known as Gris-Gris. It's an ok album. Be on this list?

Some interesting songs, but not for me

ja premlada za ovo

Just couldn’t find a feel for it.

Did not listen...

First Listen. 2/5. Different. I'd like to hear more, but not sure about it now.

…I don’t get it

Et "stemningsalbum" Men simpelthen for mærkeligt og mange laaange numre med mange lyde

Ich kann mir vorstellen, warum es Fans hat, ich muss es aber nicht haben. Das New-Orleans-Vodoo-Lokalkolorit geht mir eher auf den Sack und interessiert mich auch nicht.

Swampy chanting, occasional jazz and blues, and bits of nonsense and noise. Best Tracks: Mama Roux, Jump Sturdy, I Walk On Guilded Splinters

Speciaal, goed voor op de achtergrond maar opnieuw luisteren ga ik niet doen.

The first track grabbed me as being a perfect soundtrack to a horror movie set in the deep south of the USA. The psychedelic rock of Dr. John would also not be out of place on a mind bending trip. Although not sure if I'd recommend going down that route. The ending of "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" capped off an odd album. Best: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya; I Walk on Guilded Splinters Worst: Danse Fambeaux; Croker Courtbullion 2.5 Stars

2

definitely and odd, eclectic sound.

Gris gris gumbo Ya Ya I walk on guilded splinters Etonant, mais sympa!

Didn't mind this at all. Almost a 3 star.

Some merit in it vut zero chance it'll ever be back on my speakers.

On Gris-Gris, Dr. John gives us the most uncompromising music of his career, weaving together strands of soul, blues, jazz, and most tellingly, Indian and Cuban music, all tied together with his thoroughly stoned, even psychedelic Night Tripper persona. I wish I could tell you that Gris Gris is the masterpiece the critics would want you to believe it is, but it's too ramshackle for that. Dr. John apparently took advantage of some leftover studio time from a Sonny & Cher recording session, and not having the time or inclination to thoroughly arrange the material, counted on the expertise of a group of crack session players to fill in the gaps. That approach sometimes works in a jazz setting, but rarely in popular music, especially when you're combining at least four different music genres on the fly! To my ears, Dr. John's gamble doesn't really pay off. I prefer the more disciplined (and yes, more commercial) approach of his mid 70s albums or the rootsy, Professor Longhair inspired solo piano sides he cut in the early 80s. But still, respect is due Dr. John for having the balls to attempt such a whacked out melange of styles. I have no doubt that a great album could be made from these ingredients. Too bad Gris Gris isn't it.

Didn't do much for me. The vibe's not bad, but that's about it. It also bugs me that he misspelled "gilded".

Apart.

Really just wasn’t a fan, despite its uniqueness

Not for me.

Really weird, but it did have aspects that I liked. I ended up, after listening to the album, to go listen to the only Dr. John song I know (Right Place Wrong Time) and have been listening to Dr, John all morning, so I like Dr. John, just not that fired up about Gris-Gris.

Strange cat.

Frigging weird

Pretty average

Just isn't for me.

2.5

I feel like I'm too sober for this album because this is barely listenable.

wtf

goes hard

It was not that bad, but very unpleasant to hear it at some passages.

favs: jump sturdy i walk on guilded splinters rating 1.4/5

I could barely finish this

This shit pissed me off. I've never been more certain that you need to be high to appreciate/tolerate a record before. Felt like music to join a cult to. Full of irritating singing and mouth sounds... and fart noises... and farm animals. Couldn't wait for it to end.

What the fuck even is this?

Muy falopa, no me gustó mucho.

Not really my style

The instrumentals were pretty ok, but the vocals and chanting totally ruined any chance this album had, it gets a 2 out of generosity Actually, on second thought, it gets a 1 as I was so relieved to finish this album

Unfortunate that someone somewhere got suckered into buying this album at any point over the last 60 years.

I did not do enough drugs to appreciate psychedelic rock. This was just straight up bad.

Meh

Drain the bayou.

No thank ya Dr. John

Hmm.. very strange!

Malísimo

I am not high enough to understand this.

no lo entendi, como que no encaja en nada. 1/5

When I was a wee tot, my parents, from good carnivore stock, loved to feed me meat. Not good cuts, mind you, but from rougher parts of the cow. I couldn’t do it. It was repulsive, tough, with stringy, twisted chunks of gristle so thick, you’d wonder if it was fit for human consumption. My brothers and father would put it down like savage dogs on the lamb. I would suffer and gag. It was freaking torture. Child Abuse. Poor parenting. I’ve recovered from my fears of the fibrous fatty meats of my childhood, but on occasion, those memories come around to haunt me. Dr. John did the deed. Never again.

1/1

Brother, I cannot keep doing this. If i get one more 1/5 back-to-back-to-back-to-back, I'll just have to quit.

nightmare fuel

This is something…

Did not like this.

Look, I'm glad it got included on the list, but what in the actual fuck?

🙄😒 ok.

So overstimulating and confusing

Uncomfortable listening experience. Just bizarre, mumbled vocals with random chanting and odd noises. How this gets a 5 stars from anybody is a complete mystery.

Album #36 Dr. John: Gris Gris From what 60s psychedelic music I’ve heard, I have often enjoyed it; though of course, for me that means bands like The Beatles, The Doors, Love, and The Jimmy Hendrix Experience. Psychedelic elements mixed in with genuine melody and rock structure. So when I hear about the genre’s reputation as often being over-indulgent ‘hippy bullshit’, I never quite understood. But after hearing Dr. John’s “Gris Gris”, and discovering that it is apparently heralded by the boomers as being one of the finest albums of all time, it’s clear to me that the ayahuasca was hitting too good in the 60s. The album is very minimalistic, with not a lot going on instrumentally in most songs, and the vocal delivery not being very compelling. It feels like the only way you were meant to enjoy this is by taking mushrooms with a shaman in the bayou, in which case I’m sure this music acts as a great vessel to open your brain up with. The songs do possess some interesting moments, specifically for me on “Croker Courtbullion”, I actually really like the instrumental, but it is ruined by mindless wailing and animal noises. There just isn’t enough here for me to want to give it more of a chance, and I am just going to resign myself to accepting that it isn’t for me. Best Tracks: Mama Roux, Croker Courtbullion, I Walk on Guilded Splinters Worst Track: Danse Fambeaux Score out of 10:3.5

Certainly...diverse but largely unmusical to my ears. Stream-of-consciousness stuff, or maybe a fever dream. I can't say I understand much of what's going on. Danse Fambeaux was probably my favorite, or Jump Sturdy. Outside of these, a difficult listen and mercifully a short one.

Couldn't get what exact sound this album was supposed to have, but I didn't care for much of it.

Read multiple reviews that were praising how spooky this sounded. I’d hate for those people to hear about g-g-ghosts!

I misread this as Dr Jones at first so I when I was done I put on Aqua’s Aquarium. That gets a 5/5 and probably isn’t on this list. Anyway, Dr John violates the Hippocratic Oath for 33 minutes.

Not for me

look, i am not one to rate things negatively, i don't like doing it and i much prefer to see the good in the majority of music, however i just can not understand the appeal of this. the music itself is fine, but this guys' vocals are so grating they go right through me. not a pleasant listening experience whatsoever

I knew I was going to hate this when the album cover popped up, and I was right. I didn’t hate everything I got through, as track 2 was fine. The issue is when this dude opens his mouth. It’s absolutely horrible to listen to when he’s speaking or singing. After track 3 I gave up. No time to waste with Boomer trash like this.

Sorry - the magic mushrooms where out of stock at my local dealer.

I always learn something listening to the albums on the list. Today’s lesson: New Orleans zydeco/jazz/swamp rock through a voodoo/psychedlic 1960s drug haze is not my bag. Can totally hear where this was an influence on Tom Waits (that’s not a compliment). 1⭐️

Eigenwillige Experimente egozentrischer einfallsloser Esoteriker.

Fragt mich nochmal am 22.12. Bin viel zu überarbeitet für so einen anstrengenden Kram..

I genuinely have no idea what's going on. I wasn't really into any of the songs in this album. Most of the songs without many lyrics were really boring and repetitive or just uncomfortable and unfamiliar. The ones with lyrics were bizarre. Never really sure what was going on. 2/10

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

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

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

what is this..

No tenía yo el cuerpo para esta vaina

dog shit

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.

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

Not for me. 1/5

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.

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

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.

Not for me.

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

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.

fine

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

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.

Err

Awful

Not my thing

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.

This is weird I did not enjoy tbh

Sucked.

ok

Mama roux and croker courtbullion were okay but this really wasn’t for me

This was awful.

My first album and we’re off to a great start. The only reason I remember any of it is from how weird it is. Maybe it’s one of those things that only appeals if you’ve done some hard drugs

This would hit a lot more for a halloween vibe, but i was just listening at work at it just wasn't the vibe / relisten value for me isn't high. I liked the primative drums but it felt like all but the last two songs were fillers, leading up to "i walk on guilded splinters" songs added to playlist: - jump sturdy - i walk on guilded splinters

I hated this. Couldn't finish.

Feels like trying to talk to a delusional on-drugs and alchohol creep but everytime u try to say something he interrupts u. but instead of interrupting u he interupts the music. the lyrics and the music are fighting lol. unlistenable. 0/5

Ganz schrecklich!

Inte för mig, väldigt jobbigt att lyssna på

I'd rather jack off

Not sure what that was. There were times where I could see the vision, but I don't really ever want to listen to this again

Hard pass!

Absolutely not my bag baby

Too weird and not musical

Ok

Only 3 of the songs were listenable and none of them were enjoyable. Enduring this was annoying and a chore even though it's only 33 minutes long.

1/5

Oh dear

Totally bizarre

I don't even know what to say. Brave? Foolhardy? Delirious? Delusional?

My god this was so insanely unenjoyable. Listened to this while wrapping Xmas presents, as I thought it might be less grating than holiday music. It was not. Most of it reminded me of something you might hear during a “revival” with a cult leader or something. Do not recommend.

Just a god awful album. Ethiopian shim sham

Not very memorable, but I do remember thinking this was not for me.

I hated this.

What was that!? 60s rap? Random percussion and barely no recognizable instruments. Ah, bayou blues. Hmm. Not a welcoming voice. It sounds as if it’s being made up in the moment.

Dr. John... needs a doctor. I don't know what's going on with this album, but this is an inexplicable inclusion one this list. I don't have a problem with him as an artist, but as an album, I don't know what I just heard.

# 353 : Slow & dull, below par at best. I'm not sure it inspired anyone, but if the music isn't good, I'm not sure I need to hear it before I die. I can't imagine getting hit by a bus and my last thought being, "But I never got to that album from Dr. John"

not real music

Gar nichts für mich.

Piss Piss. I hated it

This is nice calling this garbage. If sicked major ball sacks.

Whatever the good Dr John is smoking, injecting, prescribing or selling... I ain't partaking

I... what? Maybe if I was roasted out of my mind I'd enjoy this but I was not and therefore I did not. Half an hour of nonsensical noise.

The first song is PISSING ME OFF with the music flipping from ear to ear. That was utter dogshit.

Debut album of Dr. John Gris-Gris has a very strange vibe. The first song, `Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya` is an horror, the second one, `Danse Kalinda Ba Doom` is worth the listening. While some music have entertaining melody, the whole album is crap and I'm seriously wondering why it even made in a 1001 liste to begin with.

this feels like the introduction of a disney villain, but just right before their banger of a song actually starts so idk about you but i wouldn't call this a music album, it's more of a class presentation given by the teacher that thinks they're cool and tries to make every assignment "fun" if it weren't for the vocals i'd rate it higher but i just physically cannot do such thing, at MAX 1.5 if that were possible

The only song I remotely liked was Mama Roux. The rest were just a bit too jumbled for me. I have heard of Dr. John but have never been particularly interested in him. Listening to this album did not change that opinion.

Wtf 1/5

awful

What the fuck was that shit

Mitä pukelia tämä oli?

Not my style

Vilken jävla rävmusik.

I know there are some good albums in this genre, and he even made some good music. However, none of it is on this album of what sounds like stoner-cajun-faux voodoo garbage

bad

this really did nothing for me could i write poetry to this? n

In a way I’m glad this monstrosity exists, because if I ever have kids I can play this for them and explain it’s what happens when you do drugs to make them never want to do drugs ever.

Nö!

Cajun Tom waits is a no for me

Wow, I did not enjoy this at all. It just was not in a style that I am interested in, and was really poorly mixed, even by 1960s standards. I can’t imagine making music, and choosing this genre and these songs to be what you record and release.

This is not for me really. I can see why this is on the list as a boundary pusher, and helped evolve music, but I won't be listening to this again.

While an abstract and interesting listen, this is not something that would be any kind of go to for me. Dr. John is a cool cat and an accomplished musician and has also had very notable collaborations including an appearance on Exile on Main Street. 1.5/5 rounded down for this work.

really did not like.

Three songs in, still waiting for it to pick up, so far it just feels like an intro

I only knew one song by Dr. John. Right Place Wrong Time is how I remember it. Trying for a mystique, but missing. Weak musicians and poor vocals. one star

That was a violation of the eighth amendment

painfully terrible. If you took all the bad parts of psychedelic music and mashed it into one album, this would be this album.

absolute trash. i actually had to pause the last track and take a breather. this is pissing me off.

I’m sorry to say that this album needs way more gris gris to help it be less shit shit. Hell…yer gonna find way better sounds of ‘Nawlins listening to zydeco of Beausoleil, Zachary Richard, Wayne Toups, etc. or frankly just walking in a haze down Bourbon Street or catching pop-up street players in the Frenchman Street area. The secret to a good gumbo is in the roux, but if you don’t keep stirring, it turns into a clumpy mess…which this is. Random noise to accompany a ritual voodoo sacrifice I guess? I have no idea. Regardless, the fact that it made the top 500 of all time list is laughable. I’d rather listen to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

What is John a doctor of, exactly? Hopefully just confusing voodoo music. I wouldn’t let this person anywhere near my chart. This one just left me with a furrowed brow and a lot of questions. Like “what actually was that?” and “has a spell just been cast upon me?”

Bleh!

In a way I’m glad this monstrosity exists, because if I ever have kids I can play this for them and explain it’s what happens when you do drugs to make them never want to do drugs ever.

This is not the worst album we’ve had but it’s the one I engaged with least. I just could not get into it at all.

Not feeling it at all.

Nope. Ugly

what the fuck is this? feels like a HORRIBLE fever dream. I wouldn't mind going my entire life without hearing this. In fact, I'd prefer it. album cover is exactly how I would describe this music. 1/5

No, thanks.

No

this shit sucks balls and not in a good way. no offense. 1.5

This sucks, a slog to get through.

Noise and grumbling.

What is it with blues albums?

Dogshit

Not for me

This was not with me.

Pretty weird album...definitely gives voodoo doctor vibes and "psychedelia". I can see why it failed to chart upon initial release.

Chaotic music

mental shit - didn't finish it

What even is this? The vocals and lyrical content are far far too obscure. I don’t know who the intended audience for whatever this is is. It’s rare that is truly dislike an album…this is exactly what I never wanna hear again.

Je n'en peux plus des merdes experimentales bizzares de Robert, à quel moment on retrouve dans la même liste Michael Jackson et Dr. John, c'est quand même un monde ça.

no idea what I'm listening to and maybe that's the point, but it certainly doesn't sound very good. conceptually interesting and some decent sounds, but hard to imagine anyone listening to this seriously. certainly an instance where the writers of the 1001 book included this as a novelty rather than an actually good album

Nä, det här gillade jag inte…

Garbage

Wtf is this

What

Just because it sounds good when you’re on drugs, doesn’t mean it should be recorded and distributed to the public. I thought this was a terrible album (my opinion). Baffled that it’s even included in the 1001. It may just be me but at times the vocals seem really disconnected from the rest of the band. It’s like they recorded the instruments, then a week later recorded the vocals at a different location with completely different equipment. Very distracting. The only half decent song was Jump Sturdy. I’d be okay never hearing this guy sing ever again.

I couldn’t make it past the third song. I get that they didn’t have much to work in the 60’s, but this is garbage. Worst backup vocals I’ve ever heard.

All sorts of respect for the Dr. but can't see myself listening to this one again. Pretty weird stuff. Mama Roux was pretty good and other songs have their moments but overall not the greatest. He definitely wanted to let everyone know that he's from Louisiana with these song titles, I'm surprised there isn't a song about crawfish.

Favorites: -Danse Fambeaux Is this guy good? I feel scared.

I had higher expectations for Dr. John. This was actually pretty not good.

Te hippie, vond t weinig

Weird jungle music

1.5

Not loving this psycho-folk stew right off the bat but lets let er run. "...this boogaloo crap?" yea. Dr. John is subversive and dark and moody. Counter cultural. Who gives a shit.

This was really strange and uninteresting

I really didn't like it. There were a few tracks that felt like actual songs, but even those didn't hold my attention.

Not quite sure where this album was supposed to be going. The first couple songs felt like a southern rock Elgin but then some of the middle songs were absolutely bizarre. A weird overall album and nothing really good. Not quite sure it belongs on this list. 2.6/10

Balls.

Not for me. I've never liked Dr. John and this is the epitome of that. The album sounds like a 30-minute Zatarain's commercial.

This is completely ruined by the vocalist. I'd probably rate this a 3 or 4 without the lead vocalist. Unfortunately, I find this unlistenable as recorded.

This is a weird psychedelic album. I did not care for it. The first song on the album did not hook me and it did not improve. Go ahead and skip this one.

It’s just terrible. No style. Not even sure what music genre it is!

Those retching, hissing, and farting sounds in the background of the last song are awfully on-the-nose.

Jazz - nope

Something that a drum circle would appreciate.

Vaag. Ik vind het helemaal niks. Sorry. *

Immediate thoughts: this is super creepy in a bad way, mixing is terrible. UPDATE: This shit sucks lol

ruim

Pretty bad ngl

Garbage

I don't like this

Glory be - someone had the audacity to release this!

Nah

Drug music