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Little Barrie:
Self-Titled EP
While America has done a fine job of ignoring its own groundbreaking contributions to music, Great Britain has always been there to regurgitate the sounds back to us. Take for example the phenomenon of Northern Soul. Now Im not saying that if we ran into each other at a record store that I wouldnt be giddily toting around one or two Brunswick or Kent Northern Soul compilations in my hands, but even if the Northern Soul quagmire is never resolved for me, that sweet soul music will always be there. This is our eternal link with England, and history enthusiasts arent the only ones who know how long this quirky import/export arrangement has existed. So where does that leave us now? One plan could be to focus on the newest wave of bands from England that are hailed as being funky and/or soulful. We can talk at length about groups like The Bees, The New Mastersounds, Soul Destroyers and lastly, Little Barrie: Oh look, just what weve been waiting for: English boys making music fun again. Lets all go buy every one of their records because theyre all going to be fantastic. Its a movement. Ok, stop with the yippees and hoorays, because while The New Mastersounds play some damn good covers of Alligator Boogaloo and Ode to Billie Joe, Little Barrie is a completely different story. To be fair to the band, the EP currently in question is simply meant as an introduction. At most points, however, the pace of the songs drags like sticks in the mud, but fittingly enough the EPs last track is titled Mud Sticks. Songs like Burned Out and Thinking on the Mind each offer some free-spirited and loose wordplay, but Be the One gives a deeper glance toward Little Barries ultimate potential, which we learn from this release, remains untapped. Fortunately there is hope, as their website offers some choice downloads for their LP, We Are Little Barrie, which sees its stateside release tomorrow, June 28.
Little Barrie Official Website Check Amazon, Insound and CD Universe to purchase this album. About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
