Return of the Juju King

This compilation of King Sunny Ade's work is a mixed bag. The music is fabulous, and a perfect introduction to Ade's relatively early work. What's not perfect is the way the album is put together. In the case of "Olomonge Ma Jo," and many of the other tracks, what you get is an extract, rather than the whole piece. It gives the producers an opportunity to showcase more facets of Ade's material, but in doing so the power and flow of the band is sacrificed--an awkward tradeoff. However, if you can live with that, what comes out of the speakers won't let you down, as the juju rhythms, propelled by a powerhouse percussion section, the snaking pedal steel, and Ade's wonderfully persuasive voice, keep things moving along in a manner that's impossible to resist. --Chris Nickson