JD McPherson
Let the Good Times Roll
Rounder
More than a half-century after the original golden era of rock and roll, it can be hard to remember just how disruptive—even dangerous—early stars like Eddie Cochran and Little Richard seemed with their crazy beats and oversize personalities.
Though no revivalist by any stretch, Oklahoma’s JD McPherson does a swell job of recapturing that freewheeling sense of abandon on his terrific second album. Not nearly as predictable as the generic title suggests, Let the Good Times Roll gets its sizzle from a rip-snorting backing band, snappy original songs and, most important, McPherson’s fiery vocals, which find him howling one moment and pleading the next, as if barely able to maintain control. Recalling the Blasters at their peak, he’s a mesmerizing showman with a timeless gift for deliciously greasy sounds.
