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Booker T x Mayer Hawthorne - "Sound The Alarm" [World Premiere]

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

Case you didn't get the news, Booker T. Jones--he of Booker T & The MGs fame--is back home, having returned to the revitalized Stax Records label to put out his new full length album Sound The Alarm. Dedicated Okayplayers already knew that Booker's work with The Rootshad opened up a 2nd chapter in the soul giant's storied career and the new record represents a quantum leap forward in the evolution of the Booker T sound, incorporating the latest approaches to musical production with his genius for organ and keys-driven composition. Appropriately the record includes collaborations with core Okayplayer folks like Estelle, Anthony Hamilton and Gary Clark Jr.--not to mention Sheila E.! But there could not be a better standard bearer and manifesto for this new Booker T invasion than the title track and 2nd single from the record, "Sound The Alarm" featuring young soul cat Mayer Hawthorne on vocal duties--and OKP is incredibly proud to be hosting the song's World Premiere! Kicking off with an echoey sample-driven intro, the song quickly resolves to fight song for the game called "one man taking on the universe," marked by a shiver-inducing chorus of churchy vocal runs and a guitar lick with the spooky minor-keyed drive of classic Memphis soul. Stream below to see what I'm on about and scroll down to find the full tracklisting and album details. Sound the alarm, indeed. Take notice, anybody thinking you were going to publish the definitive Book of Soul. We're gonna need a rewrite.

Booker T - 'Sound The Alarm' tracklist:

1. Sound The Alarm - featuring Mayer Hawthorne

2. All Over The Place - featuring Luke James

3. Fun

4. Broken Heart - featuring Jay James

5. Feel Good

6. Gently - featuring Anthony Hamilton

7. Austin City Blues - featuring Gary Clark, Jr

8. Can't Wait - featuring Estelle

9. 66 Impala - featuring Poncho Sanchez and Sheila E.

10. Watch You Sleeping - featuring Kori Withers

11. Your Love Is No Love - featuring Vintage Trouble

12. Father Son Blues - featuring Ted Jones