Goldmine Magazine
By Lee Zimmerman
There's disparity at work on Labor & Spirits, the debut album from singer/songwriter Emory Joseph. For starters, it boasts the kind of marquee supporting cast that's usually found backing only the most seasoned performers. Despite the fact that Joseph is a journeyman who has tempered his musical development with various stints as a short order cook, sailor, blacksmith and a DJ, he's managed to enlist an all-starr bunch of backup musicians. These include bassist T-Bone Wolk; drummers Kenny Aronoff, Dave Mattacks, and Levon Helm; keyboard wiz Jon Carroll; and multi-instrumentalist Duke Levine. It's an impressive roster that implies high profile connections as well as a certain level of finesse.

Yet Labor & Spirits represents the work of a decidedly down-home performer who hails from the heartland. The music reflects that blue-collar background, from the country-funk of 'Rhum and Coffee (For Guy Clark)" and "Work To Do" to the swampy, sinewy shuffle that characterizes "Daddy John" and "Trinkets". By turns loose, amiable, whimsical, and spunky, Joseph's music is more about personality than polish. Joseph capitalizes on the good 'ol boy persona by ending the album with some off-the-cuff studio patter that unfortunately blows the opportunity to wrap things up on a more cohesive note. It's anin-joke to be sure, but then again, Joseph's music is the sort of stuff that requires one to get down in the groove. Labor & Spirits provides an ideal blend of spirit and spunk.