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MUSICDISH
CD REVIEWS
There are three brothers from Texas in a rock band called Los Lonely Boys. They sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Los Lobos and Carlos Santana combined. What an amalgamation of sounds it is, they smoke! Henry (guitar, vocals), Ringo (you guessed it, drums) and Jo Jo (bass) are the sibling trio. They tear it up on their two new releases, the self-titled Los Lonely Boys and the EP Real Emotions. This is a power trio that reminds me of a guy named Clapton that got together with two other dudes many years ago...ever hear of Cream? There is a big difference between the two bands, particularly the Latino spice added in every song. I used Cream as a reference because I think that they could easily be as fruitful if they keep going in the right direction with their music. It is high praise indeed for these youngsters but they back it all up with powerful red-hot guitar licks, bass playing that is like lead guitar playing and drums that never let up for one second. It is no wonder this is Willie Nelson's favorite band, they are an absolute joy to hear. They all sing, play, and perform as if it was their last day on earth. You will think you died and went to heaven when you hear them.
This is all about real emotions and the people that play the music. The boys make sure you understand where they are coming from in every song. No doubt about it, it is the real deal. Speaking of "Real Emotions," now there is a radio ready smash hit if I ever heard one, wow! It has an irresistible rhythm and beat that will have you dancing all day. It is unforgettable. When you hear and see "Cottonfields and Crossroads (Live at Antones)" (EP) you will not believe how good this band is, and you will be shocked at the fact that you may have never heard of them before and the bonus video (CD) of the same song is even more eye popping. I got news, this is the Los Lonely Boys coming out party, and Texas' best-kept secret is out! This band is ready for a major breakthrough and this music will most certainly push them right to where they want to go. How can you miss with people like Willie Nelson and Reese Wynans behind you? It does not hurt to have that kind of support but their music would stand on its own two feet without any help. This great band will catch the ear of people all over the world very soon.
The Heddon Street Band play L.A. Dialogues in the jazz/smooth jazz style, and they really make your tongue wet for the old days, the old curtain of jazz that they part so well. Yet, there's a decidedly 1980s feel to the album, because of the keyboard world that Street's sax runs wild in. There's a great night-ness to it, especially in tunes like '5th and Main' which just drips with that after- nightclub effect. Chords that relax and work like acupuncture into the very soul of your central nervous system. And of course, Street with his low blow and Slagle with that almost invisible bass backbone... Well, it's no wonder the group is called The Heddon Street Band. Sax and keys all the way, man. Heddon graduated from the Berklee College of Music on a composition scholarship. He formed the band Bad Felix in LA and toured every country from Scandinavia to Australia for 7 years. He's now scoring films in LA, along with doing more music with Jimmy Street. And Street's the guy who has been blowing his own for the last 18 years on the albums of Frank Sinatra, Roberta Flack and others. He was a founding member of Big Daddy, which has a few albums out on Rhino Records. The others have paid their dues too of course, but the duo is where the strength lies. The music is potent, and deserves attention. Go to their website and check out a few tunes before you buy. Because you probably Will buy.
I don't believe that these three woman that call themselves Prima Donna are Not Having Fun. The music is too damned good! You cannot make good music like this unless you are having a good time, right? I have to tell you, I listened to this CD countless times I enjoyed it so much. This authoritative trio made up of young women has their act together. Debbie Keman (lead and background vocals), Tina Ciere (rhythm guitars, background vocals) and Gina Cieri (lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, background vocals) are accomplished musicians and vocalists and they prove that steadfastly throughout this entire album. You will hear a CD chock-full of great guitar licks with hooks galore filling in every track including sexy and attention grabbing vocals all backed by an out of sight rhythm section that is clicking on all its cylinders. This band is as tight as a pair of spandex jeans. The lyrics have their moments in the sun too as they stab and bite at their intended victims. On "Like You" the singer asks ,"Do I like you? - not enough, Do I love you? - not enough, Do I want you? - not enough, Do I need you? - how much?..." Well, you get the idea. The point made is quite clear that she does not need the person that is the subject of the song. This is music about self-reliance and independence; I am woman and hear me roar! Damned straight, and do not forget it. The little girl on the front cover of this CD could easily turn her frown upside by listening to this music. Got a grimace going on that needs adjusting? Check this out, you will be dancing in the street in no time.
It may be way off base to call Jute's debut album gothic pop, because this enhanced cd is a composite of many styles, from new age to experimental to freestyle jazz to electronic slow dance. Yet all the tunes grow on you like a Nightmare on Elm St. segment. It's often hard to tell the dream world from the reality amid the chained drums and swirling keyboard effects that sound more like molting electronic guitars, not to mention the true industrial waste sounds steaming off the walls. The gist of the album is sound rather than song. Jute's most arresting feature is that it is a band that gives you clues as to what's going on rather than laying the lyrics and stories out for you clearly like a brain dead sitcom. Of course it won't be to everyone's taste. Those with a fear of metal (the substance, not the sound), or those who frighten easily when the North Star is obscured and must make their way out of the darkness with only a clanging and a ghostly voice to guide them - this is not your 56 minutes.
NewYorkestra Big Band paints Urban Soundscapes by gathering some of the finest jazz musicians available in the Big Apple into one recording session. Led by Pete McGuinness (Trombone) and Rob Middleton (Tenor sax, clarinet, flute), this is one of the largest brass units I have heard in some time. This is modern progressive big band music in every sense of the word. The music serves as a soundtrack to the great city and the pulse of life within it seems to flow from inside every note. The ebb and tide of emotions from the people that make the city what it is provide the heartbeat and inspiration for these great musicians to record all of this beautiful music. Every time I listen to an outstanding album of jazz music, even if it is the same album time after time, I always here something different or some subtle nuance that I did not notice before. This album offered me a different jazz style in every track. I heard contemporary, big band, Latin, rhythm & blues, blues, funk and hints of swing. One of the more emotive offerings is the contemplative "Digital Life," which is an ode to our modern times. It sounds like it could be the soundtrack to a film, as does a lot of this music. The key to the success of each song is its length and multiplicity. There is not a song under five minutes and the longest is over nine minutes. There is no sparing on content and each individual artist finds a place to shine within the structure of each composition. Special guest Bobby Sanabria gives their sound a shot of cultural diversity and colorful Latino percussion. Never is that more evident on "Sink or Swim." The theme of each piece of music falls right in line to mirror the melting pot that is NYC. The musical glove fits just perfect and they wear it well no matter what shade or texture it is. This band defines the word big, literally. I could not have asked for more entertainment on one album. |
Artist: Los Lonely Boys (
Artist: The Heddon Street Band (
Artist: Prima Donna (
Artist: Jute (
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