Raging Slab--The Dealer
Tee Pee 2001
It has been an excruciating four year wait since the last Raging Slab release, Sing Monkey Sing. Mercifully, at long last, we've been put out of our misery. In fact, with The Dealer, Raging Slab has blessed the world with what may be their definitive album.
From a songwriting standpoint, The Dealer most closely resembles Raging Slab's self titled album of '89. The songs are super accessible and would/should be plastered all over the radio in an intelligent, thinking world. Standout tracks are hard to pinpoint, as every song is great. However, any brief sampling of tracks should include "Real Good Time," "Too Bad," and "That Ain't What I Meant."
The thing that helps make this the definitive Raging Slab album are the subtleties in the songs which tip their hat to every previous era of the band's existence. While the general vibe of the songwriting leans toward that of the self titled album, The Dealer's raw production quality is reminiscent of the warmth found in Assmaster era Slab. The soulful outro background vocals on "Real Good Time" remind of the majesty exemplified on the Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert album. The angularity of Sing Monkey Sing is revisited on all of the songs featuring Elyse on lead vocals. It almost sounds like she's singing backwards, with her vocal quality sounding like an angry pitbull crossed with a demon snorting and growling in a red mist. Absolutely awesome.
Needless to say, this album was definitely worth the wait. Let there be no doubt that this stuff is performed as well as it is written. That shouldn't come as a surprise since Raging Slab is the greatest underrated band in the history of rock. If you've missed out on them up till now, here's your chance. Buy this album now--don't be a poseur.
Score this CD directly from TEE PEE |
