ALBUM: Hot
RELEASED: 1996 by Mammoth Records
RATING: 5/5
COMMENTS: As the name implies, this is some hot jazz. This is one of the best CD's I own. The SNZ's continue the mix of 1920's jazz with a touch of dixieland and quiet soft songs to make it a very rounded and enjoyable album. The song "HELL" off this album brought the band into the mainstream as it was played on modern rock radio nation-wide.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Hell", "Bad Businessman", and "Blue Angel"

ALBUM: Perennial Favorites
RELEASED: 1998 by Mammoth Records
RATING: 4/5
COMMENTS: The most recent release by the SNZ's takes on a slightly different sound, but is still a very good release. This album has more of the softer type songs and the upbeat ones take on more dixieland flavor than previous releases. James Mathus makes his trombone more predominate but still the songs are laden with great sax and trumpet solos.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Evening at Lafitte's" and "Ghost of Stephen Foster"

BAND: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
ALBUM: Big Bad Voodoo
RELEASED: 1998 by EMD/Capitol Records
RATING: 5/5
COMMENTS: If you've seen the movie Swingers you'll probably recognize this Fedora-sporting group. The songs are upbeat and very danceable, or should I say swingable. It sounds like the just came out of the 30's or 40's night clubs. The lyrics are nice and cover and range of fancy suits to dance steps. A CD that I can listen straight through; not a song I don't like.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Go Daddy-O" and "The Boogie Bumper"

BAND: Cherry Poppin' Daddies
ALBUM: Zoot Suit Riot
RELEASED: 1997 by UNI/Universal Records
RATING: 3/5
COMMENTS: Another band brought out of the underground by radio play. In this case, "Zoot Suit Riot." The Album for the most part is very catchy. The swing is blended with some ska, which isn't my favorite thing. It is OK now, but if they incorporate anymore of that Californian ska stuff, personally, I'll lose interest. Not to mention, some of the songs are, well, mediocre.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Zoot Suit Riot" and "When I Change Your Mind"

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BAND: The Amazing Royal Crowns
ALBUM: The Amazing Royal Crowns
RELEASED: 1998 by BMG/Velvel/Bottomline Records
RATING: 1/5
COMMENTS: TOO MUCH ROACKABILLY!! How this got in the Swing section of the place where I bought it I don't know. It reeks of hair grease and big-fin cars. The only thing going for it is some upeat bass.
FAVORITE SONGS: I am reluctant to dignify this band with a favorite song section, but it did have 1 decent song, "Do The Devil"

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BAND: Brian Setzer Orchestra
ALBUM: The Dirty Boogie
RELEASED: 1998 by UNI/Interscope
RATING: 2/5
COMMENTS: You may recognize the name from the Stray Cats' 80's rockabilly revival. This is the most recent of the albums in which Setzer paired rockabilly with big-band. Most of the CD is comprised of 1950's songs that Setzer has redone with a touch of swing, but it is still clearly early rock and roll (which isn't my favorite thing). Evenstill, I do enjoy some of it. Much better than that Amazing Royal Crown Stuff.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Jump, Jive, and Wail" and "This Old House"

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BAND: Royal Crown Revue
ALBUM: Mugzy's Move
RELEASED: 1998 by WEA/Warner Brothers
RATING: 4/5
COMMENTS: Leaps and bounds better than the other similar sounding band. A real 40's sounding band with some mobster sounding narrating voices that are inteject in a few of the songs. I love "Barflies at the Beach" which is based on "Sing, Sing, Sing!." This is their third album with "CONTENDERS" due out August 25. I am definately going to buy that and see if I can find their previous albums.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Beyond the Sea"(another remix) and "Barflies at the Beach"

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BAND: 8 1/2 Souvenirs

*No Cover Available*

ALBUM: Happy Feet
RELEASED: 1998 by BMG/RCA Victor
RATING: 2/5 ENGLISH PARTS 3/5
COMMENTS: Major Drawback, half of it is French. I really like the English parts which leads me to believe that if I did speak French, I probably like the entire CD. There are a couple of instrumentals that are really good and are spoken in the univeral language, just music. Lots of piano. Good Cosmopolitian Fare.
FAVORITE SONGS: "Minor Swing" and "Blues en Mineur"

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