Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff
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Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens
Cold World
Daptone
If you pick up Cold World, get ready to do some foot-stomping. Like her more secular labelmate Sharon Jones, Naomi Shelton sings with a gritty warmth that will rouse believers and nonbelievers alike, while her Gospel Queens serve as a stirring foil, locating that sweet spot where church music and old-school R&B intersect. This isn’t a mere exercise in nostalgia for purists, however: Exciting tracks like “Get Up, Child” and “Bound for the Promised Land” boast propulsive grooves that will keep any party cooking with funky grace.
