Chris Thomas King: Antebellum Postcards

For his 15th album, Chris Thomas King decided to dig deep into Louisiana’s past for inspiration. Five years and 25 songs later, the Grammy-winning blues artist presents Antebellum Postcards, the first half of the resulting planned double album spread.

King doesn’t recreate the styles or sounds of the South’s antebellum period, but instead brings the themes and classic songs of the period into a contemporary setting. The result is an album filled with modern blues, R&B and folk, tied together by King’s tenderness and Louisiana soul.

As Postcard progresses across 10 tracks, King proves why he can carry the title “King of 21st Century Blues.” From the country-pop style “I Wanna Be Your Drug Tonight,” to the dirty, heavy rock of “Rehab (Winehouse Blues),” to a string-backed, big-sound, ballad rendition of the O Brother Where Art Thou? hit “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” King constantly crosses genres and infuses blues wherever he can squeeze it in.

King’s versatility is both a blessing and a curse. While there is enough variety to keep any listener interested, the album never really settles into a stride. Each song can easily stand alone, but the fluctuation across styles can be jarring.

A worthy album to check out on iTunes, Antebellum Postcards feels a little more like a mix tape than an album—at least until part two drops.

Essential Tracks: “I Wanna Be Your Drug Tonight,” “Rehab (Winehouse Blues),” “Caught in Between”

Recommended if you like: Dr. John, the Cox Family, the Soggy Bottom Boys