One man's trash(can percussion) is this man's treasure.
author: Brian Brohammahasslehoff's Blog
If you like rock and you like slide guitar, the selection out there is a bit bleak. Few popular rock artists have championed the glass or steel. Remember the classic rock 'train train' song by Blackfoot? If you liked that or any George Thoroughgood, check this out.
Hell's Kitchen has that strange feel you get from primus but it's not that all out weird. Throw in the occasional banjo or slack key- but mainly electric blues guitar- with spare drums and trash can percussion, and you've got the main recipe for this kitchen. The vocals are sometimes raw Howlin Wolf, sometimes more typical cool whiteboy like the (Jon Spencer) Blues Explosion.
Highlights? "Nice" flat out rocks. In "Jack is a Writer" the vocalist turns a bit Clash-like. "Misery" is Rolling Stones -ish with a more folksy feel. "Lumfo" is a deliberately lurching haunt. "Easy Start" is good old time rockin blues. Weirdest tracks? The atonal "Milano" and "Brick of my Body"
Overall, what's impressive is not just the rocking rhythms and experimental sounds, but the tastefully spare arrangements- each instrument blends without overshadowing the others... a real achievement considering the variety of sounds and rhythms they manage to blend.
Summary? One man's trash(can percussion) is this man's treasure.
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author: CD Baby
The fact that this blues trio from Geneva features a percussionist who specializes in "hammering" might be enough to advance the notion that is not your standard 8 bar fare, but upon listening it becomes clear that this is certainly no one trick pony. While the aforementioned percussion ambitiously provides an unorthodox yet sturdy backbone for the tracks, the guitar and bass bang away as well, mixing hollow echoes with ringing tones that resonate and then slink away. The resulting songs are loose but well crafted, leaving the musician's intentions open for interpretation. The musical attributes alternate from acoustic to electric, guitar to banjo, slide to harp. Fittingly, the lyrics do the same, taking on subjects that are both personal and passive. Fans of Tom Waits will revel in the rough and tumble percussive aspects of these songs, while simultaneously appreciating the determination involved in embracing an alternative approach to an age old form.
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