| CD REVIEW |
| Well, if you're looking for a big heapin' helping of traditional rockabilly music, it's definitely here in spades, especially if you get off on piano-based "boogie-billies" (fiercely played by outlaw journalist - Heritage Music Review - and multi-instrumentalist Doug Bright, who, incidentally, is also blind). Each one of the songs is a solid, catchy, composition on its own - short and sweet, for the most part, and strictly adhering to this genre of music that is characterized by the melding of country & western and rock & roll. This means, unfortunately, that there isn't a whole lot of variation in the beat from one song to the next, especially on the first half of the CD. "White Trash Millionaire", the turning point, has a bit of a Cajun edge to it but is not fast enough to be considered Zydeco. In fact, there are only a few "fast" songs here - "Portable Radio", "Let's Shake It", an original I'm sure I've heard performed by Jerry Lee Lewis, and the remarkably similar Jessie Mae Robinson composition, "Let's Have a Party", also included here. I would have liked a better mix of the instruments, e.g. the upright bass (played by Joe Anderson) was much too low in volume, in most instances, to really get that ass-kissing rockabilly-rebel sensation. The only songs that come close to capturing the bottom-end is "Everything We Do (is making love)" and "Five Feet of Lovin'" by Peddy/Tillis. There is some great lead guitar by Orville Johnson on "Portable Radio", which would seem to be a Bristol autobiographical composition, and "Sweet Honey Lulu" (one of those great piano boogies!). Speaking of lead guitarists, there is a guest appearance by the sadly since-departed Dave Conant on "Waitin' Too Long (on your love)", a Cooper/Bristol collaboration, which may or may not be Henry Cooper of slide guitar notoriety. This was the only tune where Marc couldn't quite make the lowest note of the scale, and it stands out regardless of Joe Anderson's backing vocals. Marc's hiccup-y vocals are so similar in pitch and styling (but not quite enough) to that of Jerry Lee Lewis on some tracks, like "Papa's On the Housetop" and "Sweet Honey Lulu", that I found it disconcerting. It is probably like going to one of those Elvis conventions, where the guys all "sort of" look like Elvis and "sort of" sing like him, but it just doesn't match up to the real thing - "close, but no cigar", so to speak. Two of my favourite tracks are "Fool's Gold", and "Guess I'm Goin' Crazy (but I like it)", both written by Marc Bristol and showcasing his own lead guitar riffery. I can't really say there was a big difference in the drumming styles of either of the drummers participating here - Peter LaPonte (The Blues Hawks) and Robert Merrihew - but that's probably my own hard-rock background interfering, not a slur on their level of skill. Being more attuned to stick-heavy drummers like Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Bobby Caldwell, and Alex Lifeson, the tighter but lighter percussive beat on most of these songs sometimes seems a bit one-dimensional to me. It took a few listens for these songs to attain their own uniqueness, but each one is now firmly ensconced in my rock'n'roll consciousness! While I was researching Marc's background, I came upon a mention that he bestowed himself with a "black belt in journalism in the school of hard knocks" - very appropriate, for a Michigan native, now settled in Seattle. In addition to being a writer for the Mother Earth News, he is currently the publisher and editor of his own magazine, entitled Blue Suede News, which is devoted to American Roots music. The final track here - "Sucker for a Cheap Guitar" - was recorded by Ronnie Dawson, an established rockabilly star. As well, outrageous Seattle singing sensation Duffy Bishop (and sister red-headed Gemini like myself) has covered some of Marc's tunes! As if being a singer-songwriter-guitarist-publisher-editor is not enough, Marc Bristol also plays in the very popular and versatile Fil� Gumbo Zydeco Band (along with Doug Bright and ubiquitous 2002 Best Blues "Best Bassist" Rob Moitoza, who has also produced recordings for Duffy Bishop, among many other artists - an incredibly talented group of musicians! |
| ROCKABILLY RHYTHM & BLUES - MARC BRISTOL & THE SHACK SHAKERS |
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