SGB's well-crafted original songs use catchy hooks and great muscianship to push
author: Scott Allan Stevens, KAOS radio / Spin the Globe reviews, Octobe
Press Reviews
Spin The Globe - KAOS Radio
Scott Allan Stevens, Earball Media
Spin the Globe reviews, October 2003
SISTER GUITAR BAND
UNIVERSAL PEACE EXPERIENCE
Peace Code Records
Bluesy guitar-rock is not a mainstay of Spin the Globe's listening. But sprinkle in great songwriting, strong vocals and musicianship, and a little reggae/soca flavoring and my ears start perking up. Seattle-based Sister Guitar Band definitely delivers on their new CD, Universal Peace Experience. At the heart of the band are the playing of Teri Anne "Sister Guitar" Wilson and the vocals of Susan Sims (who also provides percussion). Their wide music experience is blazingly apparent on the CD, which starts out with some guitar feedback sliding into "Doorstep," a straight-ahead rocker complete with soaring Santana-esque guitar and a poignant refrain: "On the doorsetep of the thrift shop on the corner / I left my love for you."
Not to get morose, the band follows with the sweet love song "Needless to Say," the gritty blues vocals of "Kiss My Dimple," and the Caribbean-beat freedom anthem "Liberty Soca." They don't say exactly what this freedom is from, but in the current political climate, I've got some ideas.
My world-music-attuned ears most enjoy "Liberty Soca," the reggae-tinged "Bam-Bam," and the Latin "Mama Pastales." But with music of this quality, I'm eager to listen outside my usual genres. When Suze gets rolling with her powerful, scratchy vocals, as on "Lost and Found," you can't help but think of Janis Joplin. Of course, for the real comparison, you'll have to catch them live, performing one of their few covers, a reggae flavored take on "Piece of My Heart."
A variety of supporting musicians make solid contributions to the CD, including drummer Ronnie Bishop and bassist Rumpa (who rounded out the foursome that played live on Spin the Globe on Sept. 5, 2003).
SGB's well-crafted original songs use catchy hooks and great muscianship to push uplifting messages, "Our lyrics," Teri says, "come from a place of wanting to heal and make a positive experience happen for everybody." And that positive experience just happens to include a lot of dancing.
©2003 Scott Allan Stevens, Earball Media
http://www.earball.net/spintheglobe/reviews
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