First up is the latest, and first domestic full-length from the one-man band known as BBQ. In actuality BBQ is one Mark Sultan, formerly of Les Sexareenos and the Sultans. With the release of "Tie Your Noose" (Bomp Records), Mark totally delivers the goods. Abandoning the garage rave-ups of his previous bands, Mark instead focuses on a rockabilly/pop crooner hybrid.Wailing away on his guitar and pounding on his drums, all recorded live, Mark comes across as some demented synthesis between Sam Cooke and Buddy Holly. This is the record the Flat Duo Jets never made.
Next up are two swinging funk releases on the Now Again label. The first is a reissue comp titled "Midwest Funk: Funk 45s" from Tornado Alley. This reissue covers funk combos from Oklahoma to Ohio, who, with the exception of one act, recorded between 1967 and 1973. The 23 tracks contained on this comp run the gamut from JBs-type hip shakers to slinky Meters style numbers. Put this on at your next party and let the action begin. If people can't get down to these selections they surely have cement in their shoes. Kudos to the fine folks at Now Again for unearthing these obscure gems.
Seattle's Half-Acre Day (Right Mind Records) have hit the bull's eye with their self-titled debut release. This is what I like best about my job. Receiving in the mail a promo copy of a disc by a band I've never heard of before, slipping it in the disc player and getting completely blown away. These guys have the pop sensibility nailed down pat, but tweak it ever so slightly with innovative use of the banjo, sitar, Pakistani banjo, horns and, get this, the rake! The 10 tracks offered up by Half-Acre Day move from psychedelic pop to rave-up rockers and introspective acoustic numbers all in the span of about 30 minutes. The result is a sound that falls somewhere amongst the clutter of Flaming Lips, Weezer and Ben Folds. In fact, come to think of it, this is what Manplanet would sound like if they weren't so derivative.
Finally, to the pick of the week, and this one really blazes. This week's pick goes to the Dexateens and their sophomore release "Red Dust Rising" (Estrus Records). This is a sraight-up, no-holds-barred Southern rock record, with emphasis on the Southern. All the elements are present: the powerful boogie riffs, the R&B swagger, the slide guitar and the drawl. While listening to this I can just imagine these guys cutting tracks in the living room of their house that's up on stilts in the backwoods of an Alabama swamp after working all day at the catfish farm. At times it sounds like Foghat. At others, the Rolling Stones circa "Exile on Main Street." Sometimes it's totally reminiscent of Molly Hatchet. However, the best way to describe it would be if Black Flag kidnapped Gram Parsons and the Black Crowes showed up to pay the ransom. In fact, this smokes anything the Black Crowes have ever released. Plus these guys thank their hometown of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and I admire that good old boy attitude in a band. Listened to this disc five times(no kidding!) beginning to end when it arrived in the mail. And I can assure you that does not happen with me very often. I'm sure by now my friends are sick of hearing me sing the praises of this disc but it is really that good. By far the best release I've heard yet in 2005. Anyone who appreciates primal, ass-kickin' rock and roll must own this record.
Anyway, until next time, adios and keep the needle in the groove.
John Fleming is the owner of Ear Candy Music.
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