Welcome to Sound Gadget. We never planned to make this album, however, opportunity struck like lightning, so we seized the moment. We went back to our old friend, Neal Ward's Silvertone Studio and used cutting-edge technologies and combined it with “sound gadgets” and vintage gear from the past along with a little "Ozone Voodoo." Everything you hear on the CD is “real” and “pure.” The trio's unique three piece sound incorporates the expanse of Texas Blues/Rock with that of early rock and roll, rockabilly, and roots. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Hank Williams, SRV, Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons, Paul McCartney and Chuck Berry all factor in to the band's continuing evolution. So are you ready for a healthy dose of ear candy? Then put a copy of Sound Gadget in your CD player, turn it up loud, and have yourself a sonic blast! AND... Don't forget to check out our other albums on CDBaby.
READ WHAT THE PRESS HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE NEW ALBUM:
The Rampage Trio have returned once again to Silvertone Recording Studio in Groton, MA., a room that works very well for them, with tried and trued recording, mixing, and mastering by Neal Ward, to produce Sound Gadget.
From the first new lick on “My Neighborhood” to the final vocal harmony on “She’ll Give You (What You Want)” The Rampage Trio mark their territory with another fine album of diverse and danceable music, ranging through a spectrum of Blues, Jazz, and Country Rock. Here’s a listening tip – you’ll want headphones for the outro on “She’ll Give You (What You Want)” as Brian Owens’ guitar resonates to a fade after the final cymbal crashes. It’s a powerfully subtle moment captured for eternity, and those kind of sonic nuances are resplendent throughout this album. There are a lot of fun spoken elements on many other tracks as well, so headphones are indeed a must. Though, through the car stereo, in the living room, or with a straight injection to the ears, these guys define their originality with Sound Gadget. Tunes like “Carlene”, the instrumental, “TR3 Boogie”, “Hillbilly Man”, my favorite track - “No Other Place”, and the aforementioned “She’ll Give You (What You Want)” make me think of nothing else but The Rampage Trio, and that’s important when you’re several albums into original music. It’s just as important to make musical associations to similar bands of fame and draw from the music of heroes when you’re trying to create a fan base and get gigs, but as The Rampage Trio have grown and evolved, they’ve finally reached a peak of comfortable originality. True fans are with them for the long haul. If you know Rampage and have Silvertone Sessions and Let’s Turn it Up!, you need this release as well. If you don’t, and you’re just dying for a musical association to someone you know, I’ll just state this - if you have an old muscle car tucked away in the garage for the onslaught of Winter, you’ll want this CD in your player come May 2009, when you roll down the road with a smile on your face and the top down as your own personal soundtrack plays.
Additional highlights on this album include the remix, or “Moist Mix”, of “Chocolate Cake” from their 2003 release Let’s Turn it Up!, as well as a great organ intro by Kevin Crowley on “Carlene” and hip banjo playing throughout the tongue-in-cheek, “Hillbilly Man.”
--Shaun McNamara
The jury’s still out on whether this band is serious or just trying to be ironic... but there are some impressive guitar solos here, as well as some really good banjo and organ playing. This type of blues/rockabilly music doesn’t appeal to me, but I’ve gotta admit they’ve got some talent. --The Noise-Boston, MA
Read more...