Chuck Berry
Chuck
Chuck Berry’s final studio album resides in the post-1970 portion of his catalogue, far from the vanguard of a genre he created.
Other than the fact that Chuck exists at all, there’s few surprises here: swaggering riffs punctuate allusions to youth culture of a bygone era amid the swinging boogie-woogie Berry’s been peddling for decades.
Essentially a faintly insipid tribute act of himself, Berry brings the curtain down with sterilised grooves that keep his untouchable reputation gently ticking over.
Chuck Berry’s pioneering contribution to popular music is sacrosanct, and it’s a relief that his posthumous swansong avoids sullying that legacy.
Words – Killian Barry
