On his second album for Island Records,
Buckwheat Zydeco continues to mix things up, adding some rock and pop covers to his trademark zydeco gumbo. Like its predecessor,
On a Night Like This, the results on
Taking It Home are a little mixed -- the production is a little slick, covers like
Derek & the Dominos' "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad" (featuring none other than
Eric Clapton on guitar) are ill-advised, and there simply isn't the fire that distinguished his independent work. That said, no
Buckwheat Zydeco album is a complete waste, and hearing him run through gritty, funky originals like "These Things You Do" and "Down Dallas Alley" makes
Taking It Home worthwhile for long-term fans. ~ Thom Owens