Too Much Fun

Too Much Fun, C.J. Chenier's fourth album as a bandleader, is the best of the four, and more closely resembles his dad's (Clifton Chenier) records than anything else being released these days. In the liner notes, C.J. declares that he plays "real songs," not "this new type of zydeco ... where they just play one riff over and over and shout some words." This knock on Beau Jocque may be unfair (Beau Jocque does as much with one riff and a groove as James Brown once did), but it does signal C.J.'s devotion to his dad's song-based zydeco. C.J. co-wrote four of the songs, recycled three of his dad's and added such inspired choices as the calypso standard "Man Smart, Woman Smarter," Z.Z. Hill's blues standard "Down Home Blues" and Fred Koller's Nashville novelty number "Give Me Some of That." Guitarist Harry Hypolite is still on hand from Clifton's great band, and the younger musicians make the catchy hooks fit comfortably in the dancehall grooves. What really separates this recording from the zydeco pack, however, is C.J.'s singing. Not only can he nail a juicy melody, but he can bring out the story in the lyrics. He tells the woeful tale of all the "Bad Luck" he suffered until he met the right woman with a perfect blend of humor and sincerity, and he delivers the romantic ballad, "Richest Woman," with the raspy, gospel-soul fervor of a Solomon Burke. --Geoffrey Himes