Look out, boys and girls, lock the doors, because the "Wooba Gooba" is back, in full force.
Languishing since the unfortunate breakup of the J. Geils Band, the hot R&B based Boston band that he fronted as lead singer (the phrase just doesn’t do him justice) for many years, Wolf has returned with a strong set of soul and "quieter" blues pieces that set a gorgeous mood from beginning to end.
The real revelation in this recording is that Wolf finally trusts both his voice and his years to make a mature performance, unadorned by his trademark craziness of his younger years. Instead, Wolf lets his songs (most co-written with Will Jennings, who also writes with Steve Winwood, a similar soul singer in his mid-years) and his lyrics do the work.
This is a heartfelt, positive album from a man who, almost surprisingly, embraces his age and his outlook.
A few years ago, we all probably figured that Wolf would continue to tour and record as a parody of himself. He has chosen not to do that, and has instead revealed more of himself, honestly, than every before.
We may miss the wild man, but this is a startlingly good move toward his next life.
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