Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas Albums (7)
'Hang It High, Hang It Low'
Release Date 3/7/2006
Tracks 14
Label Rounder
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
There's no question at all that Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas are a great band. They've got that paradoxical tight-yet-loose thing going, and an irrepressible energy, and there's an infectious joy in everything they do. Nathan Williams is also a pretty good singer, and when you're leading a zydeco band you don't necessarily want to be much better than a pretty good singer -- flashy or overly cultivated vocals would only distract from the good-time groove that is zydeco's raison d'être. Where this band tends to hit the wall is on the question of song quality. Again, if you're a zydeco band you don't want to fancy things up too much with froo-froo chord changes or complicated song structures. But there ought to be at least a few chord changes, and they ought to be hooky. There are a few such songs on this album, notably the gospel-influenced "Think About the Good Times" and ska-flavored numbers like "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa" and "Do It Now." There are also a couple of numbers on which the band's sheer, funky exuberance completely transcends the inherent limitations of the song -- the best example being the delightful "Zydeco Cha Cha." But unfortunately there are also too many moments when the songs' lack of substance drags everything down, as on the lackluster "My Zydeco," and moments when the band's salutary looseness dissolves into sloppiness, as on the anemic and out-of-tune "Your Love Lasts as Long as Your Money." This is an OK album, but it's hard to escape the feeling that with a bit more effort and attention to detail it could have been a much better one. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
From "Let's Go," the first track on the album, be prepared to be rocked in the good old Louisiana fashion, because that's the way Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas do it. This song serves to showcase everybody in the band as they all have their own little solo, even the rub board player gets a chance to shine. If the search is for melodic tunes, this album certainly fits the bill. With 14 original tunes that have a familiar charm, it won't be long until one finds themselves singing along. It could also be the charismatic piano accordion playing from Nathan Williams that attracts many a listener. Or quite possibly it's the tight arrangements that fill the album that pull the listener's ear to the groove. Whatever it is that attracts the listener to Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, it's common opinion that they have found the perfect formula that keeps the party going and going all night long. This album is a prime example of what Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas can do with playful lyrics and bouncing rhythms. They have captured the essence of vibrant and colorful Louisiana music at its finest, as one will find on "Zydeco Rumble" (which has been used on commercials for Louisiana tourism). The lyrics are provocative and entertaining, keeping the listener sitting on the edge of their seat with keen interest, as in the bluesy "Hard Times." This is far from being the typical Zydeco album, it is as original and fresh as one can hope to find within the genre. Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas have bestowed Cajun/Zydeco fans with an extraordinary dance music album that will have everyone shouting, "Let's Go!" one more time. ~ Larry Belanger, All Music Guide
'I'm a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock 'N' Bowl, New Orleans'
Release Date 8/5/1997
Tracks 14
Label Rounder
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Michael Doucet teams up with Nathan Williams for a power-filled set that constantly blurs the line between what is Cajun and what is zydeco. The set list is a nice blend of modern originals from both men (Williams' "Zydeco Hog" and Doucet's "La Nuit de Clifton Chenier") and traditional favorites like "Jolie Noir" and "I Want to Be Your Chauffeur," all of them suitably souped for the ocassion. A spirited session that makes you want to dance. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A rich product of the Creole-American culture in Louisiana, singer/accordion player Nathan Williams and his band the Zydeco Cha Chas became one of the most popular zydeco dance bands of the late 1980s and early- to late-'90s. Follow Me Chicken points to the fact that while Williams is very much an admirer of the great Clifton Chenier, he's also a fine artist in his own right. This CD is full of surprises -- in addition to providing sweaty originals like "Hey Maman" and "Tout Partout Mon Passe," Chicken finds Williams interpreting bluesman Z.Z. Hill's "I Need Someone to Love Me" and translating Stevie Wonder's 1977 hit "Isn't She Lovely" into French Creole. Another high point of the risk-taking album is "Mama's Tired," which combines zydeco with both ska and '60s-type soul. And African influences are incorporated on "Zydeco Road" and "Zydeco Is Alright," both of which employ guest Kenyatta Simon on the djembe (a West African instrument). Follow Me Chicken is a disc that zydeco enthusiasts should make a point of obtaining. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Nathan Williams continues his string of solid releases with this 1991 release. It includes good pop and R&B tracks like "Outside People" and "Don't Burn No Bridge," plus vibrant traditional material such as "El Sid O's Zydeco Boogaloo" and "Mardi Gras Zydeco." Williams again sings with zest, drive, and non-stop intensity, while the band shows once more why they're considered the tightest unit working in the genre. There aren't any surprises or low points, just a consistently fine set spotlighting the best group in '90s zydeco. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Nathan Williams has emerged near the head of the class among contemporary zydeco artists. Steady Rock featured mostly zydeco-tinged versions of blues and R&B tracks, although the cuts "Zydeco Joe" and "Everything on the Floor" are closer in structure and arrangements to straight zydeco. But Williams' voice, flair, and energy coupled with his band's ability to keep the beat moving, help him retain a sizable following among Louisiana music purists, yet also to branch out and do material that could gain attention from less knowledgeable fans. It's fiery, enjoyable music, produced with a modern sensibility and performed in vintage fashion. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
