1-12 GREAT SONGS!JUST BUY,PLAY IT AND ENJOY IT!!!It is very Eclectic A drummer enjoin life 2 the fullest...
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What bugs me about this release?
...nothing.  Not a single thing about it.  If you like well-written songs, talented performers, and a wonderful production and mix, then you'll easily join me.

Dootybug is the brainchild of drummer Nate Morton, graduate of the Berklee College of Music.  Nate has toured and/or recorded with artists ranging from piano singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton, jazz great Natalie Cole disco queen and R&B songstress Chaka Khan, alt-rock singer Poe, the national tour with the "American Idol" band, and legendary singer Madonna at the 2002 Grammy Awards.  Of course if you're like 99% of the music-listening population, you most likely know Nate as a member of the House Band from both seasons of the reality television show "Rock Star".  Which is to say the phrase "Drummer Extraordinaire" doesn't even begin to describe his skill behind the kit.

What is surprising, however, is just how much of Nate's musical talent transcend the drums.  Playground Philosophy is an amazing release full of divergent yet complimentary styles of music.  It opens with the rocker Best In Live, featuring the vocal talents of Kandace Lindsay and a mixture of all the best elements of electonica, nu-rock/metal, and hip-hop.  As an opener this is the perfect description of the album as a whole, not as a direct comparison but to let the listener know that differing elements of music flow in-and-out of each other.  Shelter sounds as if classic Run-DMC were brought into the new century, Figure It Out & Clever recalls a updated Arrested Development, All Dessert Diet and Tho 'Ya Handzup could easily sit with the hardest material Living Colour ever released, the title track not only tries to veer into Reggae territory but does an admirable job in doing so, Rain legitimately fuses hip-hop and traditional Jazz, and Talking To Myself is one of the few drum-only songs that not only deserve its spot on the album but is a worthy song as well owing to it's balance of rhythmic changes and formidable technique yet never loosing The Groove.

Playground Philosophy doesn't just dabble in all the styles mentioned above, but balances them fully to create a wholly unique listening experience.  Perhaps the high point are the lyrics, which can be purposefully nonsensical at times, but achingly emotional and personal at others.  No false bravado on this CD, only questions with answers that are left up to the listener to come up with.  It's also an extremely well-performed, recorded and produced with crisp drums, tight bass, and clarity in general for every instrument.  It's an easy CD to listen to in this regard - no harsh frequencies or badly-mixed instruments.  Utterly professional is the best phrase to use in discussing the technical aspects of the disc.

Dootybug succeeded in virtually every field above with the release of Playground Philosophy.  That an independent artist could release music without the financial support of a major label is a wonder.  That a DRUMMER could create such music is... an old joke which I won't go to.  Nate Morton and Dootybug certainly deserve more praise than that.
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