Austin’s acoustic eclecticians the ASYLUM STREET SPANKERS have long included gospel music in their repertoire, even going to far as to host regular “gospel brunches” on Sundays. Indeed, it’s one of those shows that provides the songs found on God’s Favorite Band (the Spankers’ nickname from the beginning). Referred to as an “agnostic gospel” record by the group, the album collects tunes from the gospel tradition alongside BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON‘s “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground” and the GERSHWINS‘ “It Ain’t Necessarily So” and a couple of originals. Normally I’m all over whatever the Spankers attempt, as everything seems to fit their mélange of scholarship, musicality and impish humor. With the exception of the Johnson cover, though, the tracks on God’s Favorite Band leave me strangely cold. Nothing here is bad, but little of it really soars, either. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,” “Jesus Walking On the Water” and a Dixieland arrangement of “Down By the Riverside” are all perfectly competent, but not truly inspired. Things get a definite lift heavenward whenever singer/producer CHRISTINA MARRS takes the mic, but even then there’s something missing. I don’t think artists have to be believers to perform gospel well, but here it’s as if the band was so careful about keeping its distance from the songs’ intended message that they couldn’t tap into the spirit.
http://www.asylumstreetspankers.com
http://www.yellowdogrecords.com
