BeauSoleil – Alligator Purse

It seems nearly impossible to discuss the state of Louisiana and its prize city of New Orleans without discussing two things: food and music. The two are nearly interchangeable in this rich land of people and pride. And for the past 35-plus years, BeauSoleil has been serving up a healthy dose of Cajun-inspired musical gumbo to fans worldwide.

Their latest batch, Alligator Purse, is frankly just what you’d expect. The musicianship is solid, from the inspired fiddle of Mitch Reed, Jimmy Breaux’s keen work on the accordion, and legendary Michael Doucet’s work on nearly every other instrument. And yes, it’s traditional. BeauSoleil has made their mark largely in maintaining the heritage of their rich state, offering up the finest the land of Creole has to offer. And, for good measure, they toss in a few bonus ingredients just for kicks.

“Reel Cajun (451 N. St. Joseph)” is just that, a solid reel that gets the toes tapping and sets the pace early. The only problem is that, with few exceptions, the pace doesn’t really move beyond where the album starts. And while songs like “Marie,” with its nice fifties-flavored sax solo and “Les Oignons,” which taps the rich tradition of New Orleans jazz, appear, they’re few and far between.

Yet, for diehard fans of traditional Cajun music, there’s still much to enjoy. “Bosco Stomp” is a prototypical showcase of zydeco, conjuring images of flying beads at Mardi Gras and “Rouler et Tourner” brings a signature shuffle to the game, complete with its French Cajun patois. “Carriere Zydeco” is another solid track which begins sort of benignly then segues into a really cool breakdown at the end with a bit of Baby Gramps flair. Similar tracks include the rambling “Little Darlin,” waltzy “Valse a BeauSoleil,” and the instrumental jam, “Theogene Creole.”

Ironically, the album’s highlight track is perhaps one of its less Cajun tunes. “I Spent All My Money Loving You” is a near country barroom jam which you can just imagine playing on the jukebox in a lonely bar out in the bayou. It’s soaked in relational angst and holds a “tears in my beer” sentimentality that just works. The album’s low point comes late in the album with “The Problem,” an aptly named tune. The problem with “The Problem” is that it simply feels out of place here. It’s a more alt-country seasoned number as opposed to the Creole that comes before and leaves things just a little off kilter. It’s not a bad song but is one that simply doesn’t fit the flow.

All said Alligator Purse is a hit-and-miss album. It’s performed solidly by men who have honed their craft over the years but perhaps those years have shown through in terms of their creative choices this time out. The variety simply isn’t there for this reviewer. Yet, if you’re really feeling the need for some old-school Cajun, BeauSoleil is still the place to go and they serve it up here, piping hot and fueled with enough spice to keep ‘em coming back.

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Tagged as: Cajun, Louisiana, Zydeco

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