Album review: Booker T, Sound the Alarm (Stax)

Despite winning Grammies for Best Instrumental Album with his last two albums, on Sound the Alarm Booker T reverts to his role as A&R/production svengali, creating custom-tailored settings for guest vocalists. Some, like Estelle, are well known; others less so, such as Kori Withers (daughter of Booker's old colleague Bill), who duets with the organist on the gentle shuffle “Watch You Sleeping”, one of the album's highlights. Anthony Hamilton provides another, bringing a gospelly spirit to “Gently” Elsewhere, Raphael Saadiq and Gary Clark Jr lend their talents to the great party groove “Fun”.

Download: Watch You Sleeping; Gently; Fun; Sound the Alarm