Soundbites

Funky Butt Brass Band

“Cut The Body Loose”

Independent



Is it wrong to love a band only for the audacity of its name? Well, yes.

Good thing the Funky Butt Brass Band backs themselves up with some top-notch New Orleans-style jazz and funk.

Their debut album, “Cut The Body Loose” pulls no punches to make an hour of non-stop groove in pursuit of exactly their album’s name.

FBBB displays impeccable musicianship and technique across their 14 tracks, with blazing solos and a perfectly in-the-pocket rhythm section.

With songs like “Stank,” the drums and bass kick with an airtight groove that would feel right at home on a James Brown A-side.

“Gone Gone Blues” channels a guitar stomp so swampy it makes their home city of St. Louis, Mo., seem even more unlikely.

The organic, balanced production of the album complements the improvised moments and boosts the rock-solid horn section.

None of the instruments sound like they’re competing for “space” on any of the tracks. FBBB knows just how to lay a song bare to a back-beat and trumpet solo and make it sound like there’s so much more going on.

It’s a talented band that takes simple music and reminds the audience how great back-to-basics is; all you need is groove.
--Brian LaCour

Evangelista

“Prince of Truth”

Constellation
Evangelista, a side project of musician Carla Bozulich, seems to be a revolving door of sorts. Members are constantly entering and exiting, yet in spite of this unstable environment, the quality has remained uninhibited.

“Prince of Truth” is a living testament to Bozulich’s ongoing fascination with noise and its role in the creative realm.  A myriad of instruments combined with various noises form a distinct impression for each individual track. Without a doubt, it’s the album’s instrumentals that really push the envelope and make this a distinct piece, for better or for worse. Lyrically, this album could not get any better. With her cathartic and eloquently written lyrics, Bolzulich forces listeners to face the ignored truths that permeate life, even going as far as questioning whether there is any truth at all.

It could be argued that there is a narrative or a theme of nihilism connecting individual tracks, but overall they seem to be a bit random. There is little to no coherence between songs, causing the album to feel a little disjointed.

Though “Prince of Truth” is certainly not uplifting and disorganized, it is what can best be equated to as a musical experience. If you enjoy the complexities of sound, life and human emotion, then you will appreciate what Evangelista has presented to their listeners.
--Jacquelyn White

Comments

1 comments

Mariama Mansaray

Mon Nov 2 2009 15:15

This album is great from beginning to end

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