Review: Marc Broussard Keep Coming Back (Atlantic)

I was unfamiliar with Lafayette’s Marc Broussard before listening to Keep Coming Back, and nothing on the cover or the mention of a duet called “When It’s Good” with country ingénue LeAnn Rimes prepared me for the Earth, Wind & Fire-esque R&B explosion that came out of my speakers. Keep Coming Back, recorded in a breakneck 11 days in order to capture the energy of Broussard’s live show, practically spills over with soul, from the high-octane opening title track to “Man for Life”—a song I could see becoming a wedding reception staple. My favorite number, though, is the disco-infused “Power’s in the People,” complete with string flourishes and a hopeful message reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield and the late Isaac Hayes. Broussard is not likely to give today’s R&B stars much to sweat over, but there are plenty of old-school jams to get anyone off their seat. Marc Broussard will appear Oct. 3 at The Varsity. myspace.com/marcbroussard

Essential Tracks: Keep Coming Back, Power’s in the People, Man for Life

Recommended if you like: Neville Brothers, Curtis Mayfield, E. Rodney Jones’ old radio show on Q 106.5