Gov’t Mule: Mighty High

By: Phil Santala

This could be a peek at the next step for the already well traveled, well worn and road tested Gov’t Mule. The work horse of the jam band scene, Gov’t Mule hasn’t just done it again with their latest release, Mighty High (ATO/Red), they’ve reinvented what it is, and what they do with it.

This release is the culmination of the slow boiling collaborative efforts of Gov’t Mule and prominent reggae artists including Michael Franti, Toots Hibbert and Willi Williams. Songs like the already reggae infused jam “I’m A Ram” are completely, stunningly retooled for the CD. The Mule’s slick hard-driving, lick-ripping southern rock is melted and mashed into just the right amount of heavy dub and slow reggae jams. That song actually makes two appearances on the CD, once as “I’m a Ram” and again later as “So Ram, So Rong.” The real treat here comes from leftfield. Their delightful cover of The Band‘s “The Shape I’m In” sounds nothing like the original as it saunters, slams, rips and jams.

While this release in unlikely to win over reggae fans not already interested in Gov’t Mule, it is an excellent treat for Mule fans with a taste for dub and roots reggae.

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