Are you ready to delve into a band with a unique style.Their music includes,or should I say incorporates,many genres of blues,skiffle,jump blues,country blues,and swing.Their original material reflects the general flavor of these,but goes deeper and lures you into its grasp.
The band comes to us from the San Francisco Bay area on the Bluzoid Records label.Allen Whitman the bassist is a former member of the modern surf group "The Mermen" on Mesa/Bluemoon Records.He has written and produced music for projects in various media.Multi-instrumentalist Eric Friedmann fronts the Bay Area rock group "The Detonators".Ted Savarese is a local producer (the Brandi Shearer Museum album) and also fronts his own group,"Quirk".
So fasten on your boogie shoes and get ready for a fantastic new venture.If you want to find out more just click here.
Now on to the review
Band members are:
Ted Savarese-Guitar/Vocals
Allen Whitman-Bass/Background Vocals
Eric Friedmann-Drums/Background Vocals
TRACK 1
You Run Your Mouth (I'll Run My Business)
D.C.-This one will get your attention,this swings with a powerful sway-away.The vocals are excellent, but the musicianship is what will grab you.Allen plays an amazing bass line off from some great guitar work from Ted.Eric has some fabulous brush work in this tune.A real swinger!(A++)
C.S.-I love the tone of the guitar!It captures the essence of the style of the song of which I think is swing.It is tough to define this bands music into a specific genre because it is so damn original.Great piece of work!(A++)
TRACK 2
Suitcase Blues
D.C.-Not what I consider a true blues,except the lyric style.The style of the tune is leans more to the Bill Haley/Chet Atkins finesse side.I found this song very appealing and catchy.It has a certain charismatic feel to it that I couldn't place my finger on.I therefore found it intriguing and captivating.(A+++)
C.S.-This tune is a Country shuffle all the way,n without the usual annoying whiney vocals.I like this one a lot.It almost makes me wanna go out and learn how to line dance (Yeah right!) Seriously,it is catchy,even for non-country listeners.(A)
TRACK 3
Got The Blues (Can't Be Satisfied)
D.C.-Ted does some fantastic finger picking on the intro of this tune.Again the lyrics follow the blues format,but the music is a bit more progressive giving the song a jump blues flavor.Allen and Eric lay down a solid rhythm track for a great tune.(A++)
C.S.-I would consider this more of a Blues Shuffle than a true Blues song.It is very laid back with soothing guitar work and vocals producing a classic enharmonic effect.(B)
TRACK 4
Make Me A Pallet on Your Floor
D.C.-Now here is a classic number that never seems to lose it's appeal.Ted does some truly amazing finger picking in this tune.I really liked the bass line that Allen played on this tune,it had originality.The vocals are very well articulated.(A++)
C.S.-This is a Country shuffle that has a moderate tempo to it.I do like this song but it is an extremely average song.Nothing that reaches out to the listener and says,"PLAY ME,OVER AND OVER" More of a song for true shuffle enthusiasts.(C+)
TRACK 5
Whole Lotta Loving
D.C.-Sounds like the train is pulling into the station in Hooterville.Ted does some scat which is original for this style of tune.I thought it gave the song a lot of class and a real hook.The bass line playing off the harmony was nice.Superior brush work by Eric giving us that chuga-chuga flavor.(A++)
C.S.-More of a true blues feel than track 3,but it has a pinch of shuffle(notice the Shuffle theme?) This number has a lot of energy from the guitar,drums and vocals.The vocalist even throws in some scatting.
(A++)
TRACK 6
Guabi Guabi
D.C.-The drumming on this one has a calypso rhythm. The lyrics are in some foreign dialect so I can't tell you what the songs about.The guitar work on this is similar to the limbo phrasing.The bass line was efficient not flamboyant by any means.(B+)
C.S.-This track strays from the Shuffle theme.It sounds like something you would hear in the notoriously laid back Pacific Islands.A nice change to the rest of the CD.Very calm feeling.Good work!(B)
TRACK 7
Albatross
D.C.-One of the most complex arrangements on the album thus far.Great bass lines playing harmonies off from the melody lines.The guitar is exceptional with its artful nuances and bends.One of the best instrumentals to cross my desk in a long long time.
It really shows the listener the diversity of this band.A truly great piece of work,well worth the purchase of the album.The tune has almost a jazz appeal.This one calls out for radio airplay.(A+++)
C.S.-This song was well put together with lots of little nuances that accentuate the songs beauty. Probably one of the softest songs on the album.It has what sounds like,2 dubbed guitars(it may be a guitar and a bass playing in one of the upper octaves,it's tough to tell).At the beggining of the tune there are some well executed bends.They show the guitar players knack for providing just enough flavor to make the song interesting.(A++)
TRACK 8
Reconsider Baby
D.C.-This is a real catchy melody with some slick lyrics.The unfortunate part is that Delectric cut this one a tad short.It came off with a Hank Williams feel to it.I just think they could have added more fill to extend the song.(C++)
C.S.-The first TRUE Blues song on the CD.Drums are very efficient and keep this simple rhythm going well.Nice walking bass line.This songs major flaw is its length,it is just too damn short! They ruined a perfectly good song! (B) (A+ if it was longer)
TRACK 9
I'm So Glad
D.C.-I was amazed at the version of this song.This was very very original!! The drumming was tight and the bass carries the song along nicely.But the truly
slamming part of the tune is the guitar and vocals.I have seldom heard bands do covers with this much pizzazz.(A+++)
C.S.-I think this song has a bluegrass feel.It is a very unique song.Excellent fingerpicking done by the guitarist.Solid drumming.Extremely original vocal harmonizing through out.(B++)
TRACK 10
From Four Till Late
D.C.-A great Robert Johnson tune done amazingly well. A song that has all the essences of a classic blues sound.This tune had a live feel to it which is how a blues number should come across.In the blues genre we want the feelings to be spontaneous not pre-fab. Delectric brings this to us exceptionally well.(A++)
C.S.-As with track 8 this is a true blues tune.This band does an excellent job of capturing the live, acoustic essence of pure blues.Again efficient drumming and bass playing.This tune,like track 8 is too short.(B++)
TRACK 11
Cat Squirrel
D.C.-I felt this song started out a little rough,but once it kicked in it was off like a rocket.The bass has a energetic flavor.Ted puts in some nice nuances in his guitar work which adds a lot of color to the song.The drumming is tight and has some accents at just the precise points.A danceable up tempo tune to close the album off on a truly fine note.(A++)
C.S.-This is such a swingin' blues shuffle! The intro is amazing! Excellent bass work.Nice quick walking runs.The drummer is right on target with his beat.The guitar player holds everything together with some excellent finger picking mixed with some occasional chord work.This track is extremely well executed.The whole thing feels like it's improvised.Hands down the best song on the album.A real kicker to end the DELECTRIC "experience".(A++++)
Chris' overall impression:
These guys know how to Blues Shuffle,Country Shuffle,
Swing Shuffle,Shuffle.Basically,they shuffle well.If you haven't figured it out yet,the genre most played on the album is the shuffle.A very unique sounding piece of work.I say "unique" because you don't hear many new albums coming out in this style.When they aren't shuffling they are doing an excellent job at classic blues,jazz and country.A very diverse and open-minded band playing many cross-genre pieces of art.I highly recommend this excellent piece of work to any person who likes(even remotely)any of the above listed styles of music.This is a must have in anyones music collection.(A++)
Donna's overall impression:
I enjoyed this album very much.It had variety and flair along with some dance tunes.So I'd say that it has something that will appeal to young and old.This is an album in which a musician can learn a great deal about arrangement.The thing that makes this album so unique is the way the songs are portrayed.It is masterful powerful display of American Art.If you want to pick this album up for pure enjoyment,I can recommend it.If you are a trained musician and want to listen to some of the more complex side of music, then this album is a must have.Whatever your reason pick up the CD at our "Buy the CD" page.(A++)
So until next time keep your ears on the tunes, your eyes on the road,and keep in touch with us...Donna
WebSpawner Page Machine
Send E-Mail to: DowneastReviews@webtv.net