|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About
LOTD
|
Bazungu:
Now with a Dot
Plenty of people like to deny the sizzling satisfaction to be found in a sweat-inducin, full-system overloadin, booty-shakin beatalicious breakdown. This reviewer aint one of em. Sure, I can understand the attraction in standing still and listening with full concentration to the latest indie rock revelation. But theres nothing wrong with gettin down to a funkified, jazz-fried party band now and then, either. Bazungu are just that: a good-time party band. Mixing funk, jazz, soul and 70s rock, they often create a steamy stew of chunky, crackling grooves perfect for late-night drunken make-out moves. What separates them from their many peers, including Galactic, Karl Densons Tiny Universe and Addison Groove Project, is their ability to keep their tunes taut and focused. Although Bazungu could easily fit into the raging jam band scene, their songs are truly songs, generally falling within the three- to six-minute mark and often having defined verse-chorus-verse set-ups and vocal parts.
The first song, with its fast wanka-wanka guitar intro, fiery
horns, pulsating bass and boogie-woogie keyboards gets things off to a great
start. The upbeat Bourbon Street attitude initially brings to mind the ten-piece
version of the Trey Anastasio Band, but in the middle section, Bazungu slips
into a slinky jazz vamp that doesnt so much slow the tune down as add some
unusual dimension to its dance-floor propositioning. Pleasantly smooth vocals
tie everything together, and anyone who doesnt want to move just a little bit
during this one definitely needs to see the good Rhythm Doctor. Next, a slowed-down tempo, deep-throated bass, and yearning, melancholic vocals head us into Stevie Wonder land. Bazungu pulls off this attempt at retro-style soul pretty well, but you wont forget white boys are making this music. Still, you gotta give em props for trying. Track four, on the other hand, starts to cross the line into piano-bar territory, with a Billy Joel-ish keys melody holding up an unremarkable vocal and a sluggish sounding rhythm section. But the major misstep is the two-track segment that follows, a skit that leads directly into a related song. I wish Bazungu had learned from the many mistakes rap artists have made since the in-between-songs skit became popular in that genre in the late 90s. These short scripted moments are sometimes amusing the first time around, but almost invariably annoying with repeated listening. But Bazungus silly send-up on the imaginary Candace Stone, a dragon-bitch lawyer who treats her employees like trash, isnt very imaginative to begin with and falls completely flat. The song that follows is just as awful: while clearly a joke song purposely cheesy and ridiculous it just isnt clever enough to be successful. Unfortunately, the final song of the disc doesnt much make up for whats just happened; the guitarists terribly corny tone and more piano-bar keyboards had me thinking of the Smooth Jazz and Adult Contemporary stations everybody loves to hate. When Bazungu focus on the unique blend of funk, jazz, soul and rock demonstrated early in the disc, they can get any party started. But boys, please remember: you are much better suited to rock clubs than supper clubs.
This album can be purchased at CD Baby About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
