VGRC

Every once in awhile, a band shows up that eschews genre lines, playfully slapping dozens of styles together and producing some truly creative music. Alabama 3, who mix blues, gospel and old-school country with acid house

Their debut album, Exile on Coldharbour Lane, was released to very little fanfare in 1997, and even after having (a heavily edited and butchered version of) the track "Woke Up This Morning" featured in the Sopranos, still failed to gain the British house group much attention on American shores. However, those that looked into the band discovered an amazing gem in Exile.

Fronted by Larry Love, the band is his vehicle to preach the gospel of The First Presleyterian Church of St. Elvis the Divine, which is run by the churches First Minister, The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love. Larry, who is D. Wayne's disciple of sorts, preaches the church's message of salvation ("Converted"), sprinkled with communist sentiments ("Burgeoisie Blues") and a call to arms ("Mao Tse Tung Said," which samples none other than Jim Jones).

It's this playful attitude that carries right into the music, which is fresh the whole way through. From the female choirs of the opening track ("Converted"), you know this isn't going to be your normal album, especially once D. Wayne opens up with one of his sermons that are used as intros and codas between tracks, while Larry does most of the actual singing. Though halfway through the album, they do a hilarious duet which details D. Wayne's very own "12 Step Plan" for sinners to be saved. ("Hypo Full of Love")

All the while, genres are being melded and mushed all over the place, with samples of old blues and gospel records sewn in for good measure. As each track progresses, the album keeps reinventing itself, and before you know it, Larry's singing the blues in "Old Purple Tin." Meanwhile, their playfulness doesn't keep them from taking some time to at least sound dark and serious, with Larry's cries of "You gotta help me now!" in response to D. Wayne's request for a "sweet, sad spiritual." ("Sister Rosetta") All of this is closed off with "Peace in the Valley," a sort of group hymn before the album is over where the congregation is sent back into the world to deal with their demons.

Much like Gorillaz' Demon Days, Exile on Coldharbour Lane is one of those rare hyrbrid albums that takes the listener on an adventure with a confident playfulness... and Alabama 3 never blinks during its execution.