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Galactic
Crazyhorse Mongoose
(Capricorn)
Wow!!! What else can you say about such a funky-cool band?!! Galactic is a New Orleans based sextet who definitely role out with the fat and funky tunes. Their second major label recording, Crazyhorse Mongoose is a sweet treat to any fan of funk, jazz or blues. The album starts off with the familiar "Hamp's Hump", with saxophonist Ben Ellman doing his notorious octave jumping. The album progresses quickly into a catchy catchetore' of tunes that had me jiving around the house (a sad sight for a white boy with no rhythm). "Love on the Run" is another number that just kind of sticks to your soul, with the first admission of vocalist Theryl de Clouet, and an enigmatic Rich Vogel playing the Moog. Really though, why should I go on plugging just a few individuals in the band? These guys are all great musicians, with the core of the band being Robert Mercurio (bass) and Jeff Raines (guitar), a couple of life long friends who show their skills in one of the most important parts of music, communication. Throw in Stanton Moore (drums), who studied under the likes of Johnny Vidacovich and Russell Batiste and you have one
hell of a band! A more favorite tune of mine was the title track ("Crazyhorse Mongoose" for all of you out there with an unexplainable brief short-term memory). The interweavings of the keyboard and sax were very reminiscent of Steely Dan. Also worthy of note are the more bluesy tracks, "Change my Ways (parts 1&2)," and the mellow, sit on your couch and get baked instrumental, "Quiet Please." Keep listening and you might even catch a little surprise at the end of the album, as well. Oh, and by the way, if you are wondering when you may get a chance to see these guys play live, you may just want to go out and buy the CD because you just missed them! Yep, that's right, they played on October 24th at the Barrymore, with a good turn out and a lot of people willing to dance-- it made for a really fun show. It's a toss up trying to decide which I liked best though: Ben Ellman on the sax, or the fact that Theryl de Clouet came out wearing a black silk suit. All right, well I'll finish my plugging with a closing of buy the album, it's really great!
Nathan Hall |
