New Member Spotlight *JFB*

[swaytosway]

you're up

[*JFB*]

So i was doing a search trying to find out more about the new glass record and etc.. i ran into this strange review of the Philadelphonic record which ironically someone stoleout of my friends car while we were in Philly visiting a friend. I can't even remember half the songs that were on it. Is that the one with Parasite and Numbers?


REVIEW: G. Love & Special Sauce, _Philadelphonic_ (Okeh/550 Music)
- Matthew Carlin
G. Love and Special Sauce never used to get any props from
music critics - which really isn't much of a surprise. Because while
silly, funky songs like "Baby's Got Sauce" and "Cold Beverage" do get
the chicks' booties shaking on the college circuit, crusty old critics
usually don't go in for such whimsy - especially when the blues is
invoked. In fact, after those minor hits from G. Love's major label
debut, radio programmers and the like have also pretty much forgotten
about poor Garrett Dutton, the white rapping blues man from
Philadelphia. But not unlike a handful of other hard-working bands
who constantly tour (moe., Widespread Panic, Strangefolk, etc.), G.
and his crew have achieved a modest level of success completely
removed from the world of big light shows, MTV and opening up for
big arena acts.
Now, for whatever reason, critics are giving G. some of the
love he deserves. Multiple scribes have even referenced Beck in their
reviews for _Philadelphonic_, which in the great elementary school of
music writers is like a gold star from your kindergarten teacher. How
anyone would reach such a conclusion about a guy who favors the sounds
of jazzy upright basses, vintage drums and smooth vocal harmonies over
moog synthesizers certainly defies logic. But I suppose any white guy
who likes hip-hop as much as the blues is automatically subject to
such comparison. I digress...
Even though critics are right in giving G. his due respect,
truth be told, G. & company haven't changed their formula since their
last, and better, release _Yeah, it's That Easy_. Which doesn't mean
_Philadelphonic_ isn't worth a listen, after all G. Love's tunes are
always pleasant and, well, tuneful. The grooves are always driving
without being overpowering, and G.'s guitar and harmonica playing is
always tasteful and sincere. Special Sauce, with Jimi "Jazz" Prescott
on bass and Jeffrey "Houseman" Clemens on drums, swing better than any
zoot-suit-wearing swing bands on the scene today. Basically, G. Love &
Special Sauce provide good time music that defies heady analysis. The
swooning girls at their concerts can attest to that.
High points on _Philadelphonic_ include the cow-bell-driven
go-go beat that pushes the self-explanatory "Rock N' Roll (Shouts Out
Back to the Rappers)" beyond a laundry list of rappers G. admires,
and the mid-tempo hip-hop of "Friday Night (Hundred Dollar Bill)." G.
Love achieves the impossible on "Friday Night" with a Slick Rick
imitation that doesn't fail miserably.
The real stand-out track is "Do it for Free," which starts
with a bossa nova-ish beat that gives way to the trademark vocal
harmonies and funky guitar parts G. Love shines best at. The
kitchen-sink-inclusive song rolls into what the press kit accurately
describes as a "sort of D.C. go-go meets New Orleans second line"
groove, which builds to some syncopated guitar and bass lines before
winding back into the go-go/second line beat. The entertaining lyrics
lay out G. Love's deal pretty concisely as well: "The place is filled
with smoke and women/You told me that the music really couldn't be
much phatter/I said I got a girlfriend/You said it didn't matter/She
started pressing up/And I was getting kind of heated/The pressure's
building up/And release is what I needed."
To make a long story short, the young lady begs and pleads, G.
coyly leaves his response open to interpretation, proclaims his
overwhelming love for some (other?) girl and talks some more about love
that lasts forever and how good it is. As with all his lyrics and
music, despite a certain level of cheesiness, G. Love is so sincere
you have to like the guy. Thrilled to put a chicken in the pot by
playing music, glad to reveal his influences and content to preach to
the comfortable number of converted, G. Love seems to fully enjoy life.
It comes through on disc and it's best to not think about it too much.

[tinkerlion]

did i miss the part where you told us a little about you?smileys/smiley5.gif

[*JFB*]

i don't do that. No offense. smileys/smiley1.gif

[greengirlie]

I can't even remember half the songs that were on it. Is that the one with Parasite and Numbers?


It has numbers on it.... Parasite is on Electric Mile.

[*JFB*]

oh, yeah... that's right. thanks girly.