Drummer jokes.  We all know at least a couple.   "Why is a drum solo like a sneeze?  You can tell it's coming, but you can't do anything about it."  What does it mean when the drummer drools out of both sides of his mouth?  It means the stage is level."  Well, you can take the drummer jokes and cram 'em with walnuts, because  JP "Thunderbolt" Patterson has defied them all with his cd “The LP is Dead,” now out on No Fun Records.  

My first reaction when  hearing about a drummer making an album is “are the songs just excuses for him to show off his chops?”   Nothing could be farther from that with this album.   JP has come up with a collection of catchy, punchy, up-beat tunes.  There isn’t one wanker moment here, the songs always come first.   And what a batch of songs!!   Funny and optimistic, with melodies and choruses that just don’t quit.    Patterson proves more than once that Andy Shernoff isn’t the only Dictator who can come up with rock anthems.   Give one listen to the title track, or to “One Beverage,” and you’ll find yourself singing the refrains for the rest of the day.

Shout outs have to go to his partners in crime on this project.  Dean Rispler does much of the heavy lifting on guitars and bass, and CJ Sciocia is the secret weapon, both playing and engineering the whole shebang.

Phil Spector used to say that the litmus test for a great song was how it sounded over the car speakers.   Well, I’ve been playing this cd non-stop in the Mighty Escort, and it’s a great way to pump up for another work day.   “All you need is one beverage!!  All you need is one beverage!!  When you could use a little leverage!!”
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