Tony Joe White: The Heroines : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Louisiana swamp rock icon Tony Joe White loves the ladies, and they love him back on The Heroines. On this collection of righteous duets, he calls upon some of roots music's most revered female singers, and his deep baritone flows beneath their voices like a river of aged bourbon. Shelby Lynne brings her sultry best over humming B3 organ on "Can't Go Back Home," which she co-wrote with White. Lucinda Williams joins White on "Closing In On the Fire," a sensual rocker propelled by a rhythm reminiscent of Williams' "Hot Blood" with a dose of Memphis horns and distorted wah wah guitar. "Wild Wolf Calling Me," with Emmylou Harris, evokes dusty trails with its languorous cowpoke tempo and just a bit of honky-tonk fiddling. White steps out on his own on tunes like the wicked "Ice Cream Man" ("Sometimes she's a little girl lickin' on an ice cream cone"), but he's already preparing another duets project where the gents get their due -- not surprisingly called The Heroes.