Fantastic Negrito, “Son of a Broken Man.”

It’s been 10 years since Xavier Dphrepaulezz unretired from music and became Fantastic Negrito. Since then he released a self-titled reintroduction, won the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk Contest, won Grammys for three consecutive albums, opened for Temple of the Dog and collaborated with Sting, among other highlights.

In that time he’s released five new albums, each more personal than the last. The second, Last Days of Oakland, was an exploration of the transformation and gentrification of his city. Please Don’t Be Dead was about a catastrophic 1999 car crash that left him in a coma. Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? was about mental illness, and White Jesus Black Problems was about a white ancestor and her relationship with a man only referred to in records as “Unnamed Negro Slave,” which eventually led to Dphrepaulezz himself.

Fantastic Negrito has said Son of a Broken Man would be his most personal album yet; a high bar to set. But it’s one he cleared. In his words, “When I was 12 years old, my dad stopped talking to me and kicked me out of the house. I never saw him again and he ended up dying while I was in foster care. This is me talking to him and telling him what I’ve done with my life.”

In a callback to Last Days of Oakland, the first track is about man-on-the-street answers to a question. The question sets the tone for the album: “Who was the first to betray you?”

From there is the grungy, distorted “Runaway From You.” As with many songs on the album, the lyrics stand on their own since it could easily be a classic blues song about leaving a bad relationship, but in the context of the whole it starts at the beginning when he was still living with his father.

The bass-focused “Skirty” gets more to the point on the chorus. “I had no place to go,” Fantastic Negrito repeats, before adding, “The first person that betrayed me was my daddy/ He was 63 and my mama was 30.”

“Mama did not like me/ Daddy did not like me.” So begins “Goddamn Biscuit.”

Negrito delivers the songs in classic modern blues style. His last few albums have had a more experimental bent, and while he still goes outside the box on this one, it’s great to hear him do what he does best.

“Hope Somebody is Loving You” is somewhat of a rarity in the Fantastic Negrito oeuvre: it’s a pure ballad. But he should do more! Not exclusively of course, but I don’t think anyone would mind one or two per album. It’s closer to his ’90s, pre-car accident stint as a major label artist, which is obviously not what he wants to be doing but is still something for which he has a knack.

The album is solid from start to finish. “Devil In My Pocket” is modern blues rock of the highest order. “Living With Strangers” has the makings of a live show mainstay. “Crooked Road” is more classic blues rock with an excellent hook. The sound varies enough to keep it interesting and to make the songs distinct, but there are enough similarities in theme and vibe to make the whole thing consistent.

For me, White Jesus Black Problems wasn’t quite as good as the previous entries. It was also his first Fantastic Negrito album since his first to miss out on a Grammy. Son of a Broken Man goes back to setting a new standard. It feels most similar to Last Days of Oakland, not just my favorite Negrito album but one of my favorite albums ever. Even if you aren’t aware of his work and don’t consider yourself a blues fan, do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

Follow publisher Daniel J. Willis at @bayareadata.press on BlueSky.