Tribal - Dr. John
Tribal Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critics What's this?

  • Summary: Dr. John revives the Night Tripper persona for his new album Tribal, which features guest spots from Derek Trucks, Donald Harrison, and tunes by Bobby Charles and Allen Toussaint.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. This isn't just a logical follow-up to 2008's excellent The City That Care Forgot, it's close to a career-defining summation from one of America's most important musicians.
  2. At times, the doctor and his new band sound oddly akin to Steely Dan in a mellow mood, with lyrics only a tad less literary than that group's.
  3. Tribal, which too often plays it safe with its good-time gumbo of funk, blues, jazz, and swamp rock. Courtesy of his band, the Lower 911, the musicianship is superb, but the songs aren't especially memorable, serving up political commentary in fortune-cookie philosophy.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of
  2. Mixed: 0 out of
  3. Negative: 0 out of

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