Crimestoppers, The
On The Case
Backup singing is an art unto itself, as evidenced by the Pips, the Raelettes, the Ikettes, the Sweet Inspirations, and Carolyn and Erma Franklin singing "re-re-re-re" behind Aretha. Transitioning from backing vocalists to a standalone group takes courage and chops, but the Crimestoppers make it sound easy on this debut album. Generations of eastern North Carolina gospel music brought Anthony "Amp" Daniels, KeAmber Daniels, and Christy "Cree" Moore to this point. But On the Case finds them taking a break from the sacred soul of their family groups to embrace straight-up soul. Like Aretha, Sam Cooke, and the Staple Singers before them, they make themselves right at home on either side of the sacred-secular divide. They have backing from a deeply funky band led by Jimbo Mathus, a fellow Music Maker Foundation artist who rose to fame with Squirrel Nut Zippers. He also wrote all nine of these songs and co-produced with Fat Possum Records mainstay Bruce Watson. From the sexy funk of "Body Shop" and "Dirty Hustlin'" to the soothing groove of "Soul Provider," On the Case escorts three stellar singers out from the shadows and into the spotlight.