Agave Summer
© Copyright-Debo, Snakewoodcharm Music
(733792506527)
Record Label: Snakewoodcharm Music
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A ride with Albuquerque's ALPHA BLUE is a travelogue of diverse musical influences sampled with unabashed eclecticism: world-beat, folk-rock desert blues with a pop sensibility! There's some tasty pickin', wailing guitar leads, soulful and sultry vocals, sweet harmonies, sumptuous keyboard lines, and the special flavors provided by the accordion. The stand-up bass lends a jazz feel while the drums hold it all down at the bottom.
Keith Levine rocks on acoustic and electric guitars and delivers a soulful, bluesy baritone. Debo brings richness and warmth with her honeyed alto and provides the cornerstone sounds with her accordion and piano. Michael Grimes on stand-up and electric bass deftly ties it all together with undercurrents of jazz that bend the sound like light through a prism. The beat is in the heart and drummer Zoom Crespin lays it down in spades on traps and percussion. Special guests on oboe, french horn, and sax, as well as Michael Grime's spin on mandolin, add to the ALPHA BLUE sound.
The mix of rock, blues, country, and folk is punctuated by standout flavors of the high desert plateau with some middle-eastern, spaghetti-western melodic spice thrown in for good measure. On "Agave Summer", ALPHA BLUE's recording debut, the 10 original songs plus a unique send-up of Iggy Pop's "The Passenger", take the listener to a place that is sun-drenched and blue-sky wide where the road runs forever...
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Great debut
author: anna
Alpha Blue's music is quirky and charming with a unique twist provided by Debo's sweet vocals.
"Memories" is infectious folk pop with heavenly harmonies and a great saxophone bit by Jonnie Grimes.
"Yer Drinking Yerself to Death Blues" is an up-tempo song about a sad topic. Alpha Blue manages to make it seem like a natural combination. Debo plays the accordion which is always a plus.
"Aint Life Grand" offers a message of hope to its jaunty tune. The song reminds me a bit of Vaya Con Dios if anyone remembers them? Ah ,dating myself here. Debo's vocal has a radinat quality here.
An original cover of Iggy Pop's "The Passenger" further proves the bands versatility. Here it becomes a rustic, acoustic singalong rather than a rock anthem.
"God Packed his suitcase" tells a darkly compelling tale to another happy melody. The mandolin part adds flavor.
Alpha Blue is an original band and this is a forceful debut.
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Great mix, good quality, fresh sounds.
author: John Conlon
What a great mix of sound gems. Starting with the great sax styling and running through the fresh accordian, percussion colors and topped off by the crystal clear, pleasing vocals this CD is a very exciting addition to my CD collection.
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author: www.audiogrid.com ~ steve ekblad
This Albuquerque based band is very unique! They bring a blend of folk, rock, and jazz with a healthy dose of inspiration. The instrumentation includes the pleasantly differentiated use of acoustic and electric guitar, drums, percussion [diverse], piano, accordion, saxophone, oboe and french horn. Add some bewitching vocals and you possess the basic ingredients of alpha blue's new CD, "Agave Summer". I do not see any category singles on the CD--rather a sort of folk rock opera, a work that should be listened to and enjoyed in it's entirety. Almost all of the songs were penned by group member, Debo [vocals, piano, accordion, percussion]. Alpha Blue is unlike any other band I have heard. They are enjoyable, highly listenable, and totally unique. They offer their listeners an enlightened expansion of what can be accomplished through music. They will have appeal to a wide audience but require the listener to pay attention--or they will miss out on subtle elements that create the magic of their sound. ~ steve ekblad audiogrid.com
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