Muddy Waters has caught up to his legend and made an album of straight Chicago blues, sounding as fiery and nasty as he managed to 20 years ago. His unjustly ignored guitar acts as a fine counterpoint to the lyrics, as well as providing extra energy in its own right. "Mother's Bad Luck Child" and "Garbage Man" are the best developed songs but there are good rockin' instrumentals, "After Hours" and the classic "Muddy Waters Shuffle," as well. The album's title tune and the derivative "Sad Letter" and "Love Weapon" prove that Muddy can still choose and demand the utmost from the cream of Chicago's bluesman crop. No superstars or electronic gimmickry invade the blues club mood that Muddy conjures with ease on Can't Get No Grinding.

“Time to Pretend”

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”