Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Otis Taylor stands alone among 21st century blues musicians in his fearlessness in redefining what the music means in modern society. He pushes forward, but he also has a deep knowledge of its history, and 2017's Fantasizing About Being Black draws upon the past to offer commentary of contemporary race relations in America. Taylor's 11 original compositions -- including four earlier tunes re-recorded for this record -- take stock of African American history, from slavery into the present, but there's a concentration of stories from the 20th century, including songs devoted to World War II and Civil Rights marchers. No matter the setting, the songs feel alive, an impressive achievement made all the more so because of how understated Taylor's delivery is. He's expanded the essential single-chord boogie of John Lee Hooker so it's become mesmerizing and open-ended, but this music isn't designed for passive listening. There's dramatic tension in its circular chords and its sparseness helps draw attention to his stories. Neither his music nor lyrics follow shopworn blues changes, but that's why they feel so vital: far from resting on clichés, Taylor recasts the blues and the history of Black America on Fantasizing About Being Black in a way that speaks to a new century, and the results are bracing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Otis Taylor, Composer, Lyricist, MainArtist - Shoelace Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Album review
Otis Taylor stands alone among 21st century blues musicians in his fearlessness in redefining what the music means in modern society. He pushes forward, but he also has a deep knowledge of its history, and 2017's Fantasizing About Being Black draws upon the past to offer commentary of contemporary race relations in America. Taylor's 11 original compositions -- including four earlier tunes re-recorded for this record -- take stock of African American history, from slavery into the present, but there's a concentration of stories from the 20th century, including songs devoted to World War II and Civil Rights marchers. No matter the setting, the songs feel alive, an impressive achievement made all the more so because of how understated Taylor's delivery is. He's expanded the essential single-chord boogie of John Lee Hooker so it's become mesmerizing and open-ended, but this music isn't designed for passive listening. There's dramatic tension in its circular chords and its sparseness helps draw attention to his stories. Neither his music nor lyrics follow shopworn blues changes, but that's why they feel so vital: far from resting on clichés, Taylor recasts the blues and the history of Black America on Fantasizing About Being Black in a way that speaks to a new century, and the results are bracing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:49
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Otis Taylor
- Composer: Otis Taylor
- Label: in-akustik
- Genre: Blues/Country/Folk Blues
2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG 2017 in-akustik GmbH & Co. KG
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.