Funky, bluesy, soulful, rock-n-roll.  Much diversity from start to finish -- even the cover songs have a cool unique spin.  Music to keep you movin' and dancin'!
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Funky, bluesy, soulful, rock-n-roll.  Much diversity from start to finish -- even the covers have a cool, unique spin.  Music to keep you movin' and dancin'!  Love iT!
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Brooklyn, New York born Michael Louis grew up listening to the rock 'n' roll music that his parents loved, and so, for this release, he and his band travelled south to record in Memphis and imbibe the feel of those 50's and 60's greats. Co-produced by Travis Wammack, himself a 16-year-old prodigy in the 60's, this trio have forged a CD that is heavy on rhythm, riff, distortion and rock - all interspersed with lighter moments of funk (Shade Tree), country (Country Girl) and southern rock (Saturday Night). "Let It Go" is very reminiscent of early Allman Brothers, with some pleasant slide playing. In "Super Directional", Louis has nailed a superb rockabilly track. The final song on the album is perhaps the real reason that Louis and the band travelled south.  "Memphis Sound" is very much a tribute to those early rock 'n' roll pioneers, played in the spirit of those times, and with Sun Records legends Sonny Burgess and Billy Lee Riley singing on the track. The final offering is a conversation with those two, recounting their memories of how they achieved that sound.  -  Merv Osborne
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Brooklyn’s Michael Louis Band is a hard working, big sounding and righteous power Blues trio that cuts to the chase and drives on.  Louis has found the Seger boogie and the sublimely rocking profundity of Cream.  These guys may be from the 3rd city but here, North is definitely meeting South. These sessions were recorded across Dixie in Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Tupelo, MS. And, to show how they were received, Roland James said “you guys may be from New York but it must be South New York.” These recordings really got the “stank” they were seeking.  This disk is rife and full with soul, funk, country, Southern rock or even what we LIer’s call “psychedelta.” The band of Eric Kalb (D), Andrei Sebastian (B) and Michael Louis (G,V) have lots of back and experience and together, they crunch.  Guests include Travis Wammack who produced and played some axe and James Wormworth who did well hitting things along with Sonny Burgess and Billy Lee Reilly of Sun Studio fame.  Feedback and fuzz, sliding and grinding and rapid fire axe share time with soulful stretching out like in opener “Ain’t That Kinda Man.”  “Shade Tree” pops and funks like it has no backbone.  Allman Brothers imbues “Let It Go”, “Molly” is an acoustic Ragtime tribute to a certain kind of lady and “Cause of Us” Cissily struts like Nocentelli, Batiste and Porter.  Heavy is all you need to know about “Reasons and Seasons.”  Probably the coolest cut to flow across my tympanic membranes in a while is a deep North MS take on “I Fought the Law”!  These guys bring it from the woods to the city.  Krang!  - Mark Gresser
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