Andre Williams and the New Orleans Hellhounds

One thing that can be said for sure about Andre Williams is that he’s never predictable. Most of his current fan base had never even heard of him until he made 1999’s Red Dirt with the Sadies, a combination that suddenly made the X-rated R&B Williams pioneered in the ’60s and ’70s relevant again. Since then, he’s recorded with many other young, punk-infused bands and on Can You Deal With It?, he teams with members of Morning 40 Federation, who add a touch of Crescent City soul to these nine tracks that show Williams in fine shape and as sleazy as ever. In fact, all the elements that Williams has used to reinvent himself over the past decade are in perfect balance, making the album as close to a definitive statement as Williams has ever made. Songs like "If You Leave Me” and "Your Woman” groove mercilessly, while "If It Wasn’t For You” is a surprisingly touching ballad. Williams may never get the respect he deserves from R&B aficionados but Can You Deal With It? is a powerful punk-soul fusion that will stand the test of time.