God, Guns & Money is a politically charged statement, and highly relevant in tod
author: Frank Fairbanks, Louisiana Local
Louisiana Local
April 2005
Brian Stoltz
God, Guns & Money
The other CD reviewed is by Slidellian Brian Stoltz, who played guitar with the Neville Brothers during the eighties, then went on to tour and / or record with Bob Dylan, Linda Ronsdadt, Paul Simon, Dr. John, Jimmy Buffett and others. Lately he has joined the Funky Meters while also pursuing solo projects. This is the second CD of Brian’s to come out of Suitemix studio, the first being “East OF Rampart Street”. Brian Stoltz’s guitar playing brings to mind the word “journeyman”, to borrow a term from Eric Clapton. He is a consummate player technically while at the same time playing directly from the soul. Stoltz is a master of the blues and rock genre while keeping strong the ever-present funk flavor that he helped pioneer with the Neville Brothers. The songs on the CD are true to this style: Stoltz’s rock & blues guitar work over highly funky rhythm grooves, with the support of some of the best players around (including drummer Harold Bosarge, pedal steel player Dave Easley and vocalist Irene Sage and Greg Barnhill.
God, Guns & Money is a politically charged statement, and highly relevant in today’s world of terrorist and governments and so many who evokes the name of God or another while committing various atrocities. The recent election which highlighted the painfully divided psyche of our country is over. But all the old problems remain. The war continues with no end in site, as Islamist extremists continue to recruit young men willing to sacrifice themselves in a jihad, and the U.S. government builds permanent military bases in Iraq, with no apparent plan for a pullout. We live our routine day to day life, and whether we acknowledge it or not, these world issues continue to be crucial to our planet’s safety (we only have one guys). It seems rare to find someone who will deal with the issues that so many people today would rather not talk about.
Most of the songs on the CD are concerned with the war in Iraq and it’s initiators. In the second track, “War Song”, Stoltz reveals his involvement with war issues: While he is staunchly anti-war, he has a brother in Texas who is retired military and pro-Bush, and another brother who is currently fighting in Iraq. The family worries about the son and prays for his safe return: “I’m so angry I’m pissin’ fire, daddy cries his self to sleep, mama just stays kinda quiet, grandma says, pray the lord his soul will keep”. The song explores the emotions between family members and the conflict of brotherly love and differing world views.
Stoltz makes no bones about his political beliefs, no, this guy is not one to sit on a fence. Check out these lyrics from “the Greatest Armed Robbery In History”: “stuck in this desert land, my lonely heart hurtin’. Slowly realize I’m here protecting Halliburton” and…”privatize the system, let’s go rob the bank, mission accomplished boys, lets give thanks”.
From the song “Chicken Hawk”, which could be applied to a great many of the powers that be, in Washington and elsewhere…”chicken hawk, chicken hawk how can it be, that you avoid the war then try to send me. You, your sons and daughters, your lives have been spared. Chicken Hawk I’ve got a little brother over there”.
Well, if the shoe fits…
Brian clearly has the courage to say what he believes in, and what is clearly important to him. Whether you agree with his views or not, you have to respect this. His music is great to listen to and his words come from the heart. – Frank Fairbanks, Louisiana Local
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Who’d have ever thought that the first great Iraq protest album would come from
author: Brett Milano, Gambit Weekly, New Orleans, La
Gambit Weekly CD review
Vol 26 | NO 16 | Apr 19, 2005
God, Guns & Money
Brian Stoltz
(Long Overdue Recordings)
Who’d have ever thought that the first great Iraq protest album would come from the funky Meters’ guitarist? Having a brother wounded* in the war has politicized Brian Stoltz enough to write a full disc’s worth of scathingly topical songs. That doesn’t make it a one-note album: Some tracks are satirical, some poignant and some just plain pissed off, but Stoltz never loses sight of his main point: Somebody’s getting a big benefit from this war, and it isn’t you, me or the Iraqis.
To suit the subject matter, the sound veers a long way from funky Meters territory. The funk is more somber and the blues blaze with anger. Fans of Stoltz’s guitar playing shouldn’t feel shortchanged, as “War Song” and “Opposite Sides Of The War” feature plenty of his trademark wailing slide. The title track features a rare shot of Meters rhythm.
More often, the guitar lays back to illuminate the lyrics. It shadows his voice on the disc’s chilling centerpiece, “Chicken Hawk”, which recounts his brother’s return and spews venom at those responsible. At first, it’s a mild shock to hear someone other than Steve Earle be this outspoken on a CD, but that’s a sad reminder of how long it’s been since musicians were expected to do that. – Brett Milano, Gambit Weekly, New Orleans, La
* Brian’s brother was in fact not wounded in the war. A line from the song was possibly taken out of context. A correction appeared the following week.
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Stoltz channels Steve Earle and Warren Zevon,
author: Keith Spera, Music writer, Times Picayune New Orleans, La
JAZZFEST JUKEBOX
Saturday, April 23, 2005
By Keith Spera
Music writer
Brian Stoltz
God, Guns & Money
Long Overdue Recordings
As the longtime guitarist in the Funky Meters, Brian Stoltz has contributed to countless good-time grooves. But the deployment of his brother to Iraq didn't leave him in a Mardi Gras mood. On his new "God, Guns & Money," Stoltz channels Steve Earle and Warren Zevon, brokering his anger, frustration and misgivings about the conflict into his best solo album to date. The slide guitar boogie of "War Song" would work just fine with trite lyrics about roadhouses, booze or busted romance. Instead, Stoltz muses, "Deep emotion touched my family, when my brother left for the war/I prayed I'd never have to fight a day in my life, still took a wound to the heart." Smart arrangements and crisp production abounds, from the atmospheric musings of "Chicken Hawk" to the mid-tempo acoustic pop of "This Christmas." The instrumentation, much of it provided by Stoltz himself, leaves ample room for the words to resonate. But his killer riffs makes them go down easy.
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