Take a stack of soul platters from the 1960s and 1970s from the likes of
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles,
Sly & the Family Stone,
Curtis Mayfield,
Marvin Gaye, and
Stevie Wonder; mix generously with a propulsive mix of two bass guitars, two drummers, and the vocals of a Detroit rock legend; and you have an underrated gem in the Motor City music scene.
Ultraglide in Black puts a rock spin on recognizable nuggets of soul and funk while retaining the original version's integrity and message. Most of the tunes covered here are spirited party tracks, including a sparkling version of
Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" that features a strident breakdown. Vocalist Mick Collins, of
the Gories fame, paints each track with a flavorful delivery which at times will have the listener literally transported to AM radio's yesteryear.
The Dirtbombs have created a record that is akin to stumbling across a box of cool records in your parent's attic, and is suitable for continuous play at any house party. ~ Douglas Siwek