Mighty High

Album Review

It appears as though Gov't Mule aren't afraid to touch upon a multitude of styles — as long as they are of the vintage variety (or more specifically, styles that thrived in the 1970s). They've hinted at their admiration for dub-reggae for a while (specifically in their concerts), but it wasn't until their 2007 release Mighty High that they fully embraced the aforementioned genre. A play on words of their 2006 studio album (High & Mighty), Mighty High contains 13 dub-reggae makeovers of Gov't Mule favorites from throughout the years, and features guest appearances by such renowned reggae artists as Michael Franti, Toots Hibbert, and Willi Williams. Also, it turns out that the recordings included here come from several sources, including studio recordings mixed in with live recordings from such old Gov't Mule stomping ground as the Beacon Theatre, Bonnaroo, and Mountain Jam. What you get is a hodgepodge of tunes that draw equally from classic rock and reggae, including such standouts as "Play with Fire" (with Michael Franti), "Rebel with a Cause" (with Willi Williams), and "Hard to Handle" (with Toots Hibbert). But there are a few moments where the rock outweighs the reggae, most noticeably the album-opening ass-kicker, "I'm a Ram." Mighty High serves as both an interesting musical detour and a momentary break from the high-volume guitar jams that have become Gov't Mule's trademark.