| So what do you get when a bunch of dropouts are tired of people jumping on
Nirvana's grungy nuts? Well if you are Steve Perry, then you bring about 8 people
together, put brass in their hands and start a whole new wave of music. Who could
forget the "Zuit Suit Riot" of the 90's that had everyone swing dancing like we
were in the 30's. These guys are legends and while their roster has undergone a few
changes (about 13 hah), their new album "Susquehanna" is the culmination of 8 years
of music and I'm looking to see what these guys have to play.
I really did enjoy the knee slappingly good times that swing music brought us in
the late 90's, but I couldn't help but wonder what bands like Cherry Poppin'
Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy did after that fad wore out? Well apparently TCPD
went on to a more matured role of ska that touched regions such as neo-lounge and
even country (mixed in with ska of course.) And the reason I bring that up is
because this album is a continuation of that maturity. They have taken their
familiar fast paced style and made it a mixture of a more toned down feeling like
its in a smoke filled jazz bar as well as swift catchy ska-punk songs.
I must say I enjoy the "punk" side of TCPDs more than their suit and top hat
wearing days. But these guys are always about making music that is fun to listen to
and just as fun to play, making their music carefree and entertaining no matter
what. I was surprised that much of their music came off like something from 311 or
Sublime, which was pretty funny. There are a few songs that take a shot to the
past, "White Trash Toodle OO" in which images of the swingers club from the movie
The Mask come to mind and while Cameron Diaz can out last decades, this style of
music is getting a bit rusty.
So if you get a stiffy when dozens of brass instruments play in unison then you
should already know about TCPD and you might already have this album. For others,
this isn't what you remember them to be and that might be a good or bad thing for
some. Either way I say "Susquehanna" is a good album after the 8 year hiatus.
Maturing carefree music is always a plus, especially when a band is able to escape
from a crippling genre label, ::cough::nu-metal::cough:: for example. Enjoy your poppin good time with these energetic and aged-fine set of tracks.
~ Pernell
March 27 2008 |
