Armed with an Epiphone and the raspy voice of a grizzled rock veteran, 25-year-old Benjamin Booker released a debut in 2014 humming with urgency, rocking ears and asses with a steady stream of blues-infused, jangle-punk ditties. In contrast, outright rockers are few on Witness, which has Motown, gospel and soul influences moving to the forefront. With this shift, Booker explores his gifts as a vocalist, his restless guitar frequently assuming a supporting role. “Believe” is a case in point, opening with a swell of Motown strings as Booker, with soul singer accompaniment, delivers an impassioned performance. It’s reminiscent of his contemporary, Leon Bridges—if Bridges had a five-pack-a-day habit. Similarly, on the title track, Booker enlists Mavis Staples to confront racism and police violence in the guise of a Sunday-morning singalong. Like his labelmates in Alabama Shakes, Booker takes inspiration from the past to make huge artistic leaps forward.
—Matt Ryan
