It doesn't matter how cool any band purport themselves to be; calling an album M.O.R. is a risky venture, even if it is intended as being wholeheartedly ironic. It's lucky, then, that Deep South-channeling-South Londoners Alabama 3 have the street cred to get away with it (but that doesn't stop them from being one of Marty Whelan's 'favourites' - seriously).Now in their eighteenth year of existence, the Brixtonites' profile was given a serious shot of adrenaline when their 1997 debut Exile on Coldharbour Lane spawned the Sopranos theme tune 'Woke Up This Morning', and have enjoyed moderate success since - often being referred to as 'the greatest American act the UK ever produced'. M.O.R. contains no surprises for ardent fans of the hedonistic septet; an album infused with gritty rock 'n' roll, slick blues licks and their trademark decadent programmed beats, it's a natural successor to 2005's techno-country collision Outlaw, providing more of the same soulful, guttural paeans that the band are now famed for. Several tracks here incorporate elements of rap music, too (Are You A Souljah?, Monday Don't Mean Anything); opening track Fly could almost pass for a Morcheeba-style chillout offering, while eccentric, snarling singer The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love shares lead vocals with a silky-voice (unknown) female on the menacing, gospel-saturated Holy Blood, drawing comparisons with some of the meatier tracks from the recent Grinderman album. There's nothing on M.O.R. that will convert those who haven't already been baptised into the A3 church, but don't be fooled by the title; Alabama 3 may be approaching the dreaded middle-aged Dadrock years, but there's absolutely nothing 'middle of the road' about this album. Amen to that.
