Banditos Banditos (Bloodshot Records)
Damn fine stuff! Chicago-based Bloodshot Records champions the
fringe side of Americana and alt-country artists. If you’re a fan – as I am – of lesser-known, “slightly out there” music that’s steeped in country, blues, rock and folk, their latest find from the southern States should be right up your alley. Banditos is a sextet from Alabama that nails it with
their self-titled debut album. Five dudes and a female vocalist eerily reminiscent of Janis Joplin and Patsy Cline with the vocal chops to match, they make sonic music that bounces all over the proverbial map. Damn fine stuff, though! It is not that often that you get twin guitars, three lead
vocalists, prominent banjo and even kazoo! (Long Gone, Anyway) meshing so tightly and rhythmically on any album, let alone a debut. The band pulls it off. Tight and inventive, careening
from country to blues to straight ahead R&R maniacally, Banditos is a no-holds-barred, bareback-bronco ride for the length of its 12 songs, 50 minutes playing time.
Comparisons are difficult. There
are hints of Skynyrd here, but also bluesy wailers (check out Mary Beth Richardson’s vocals on Old Ways), drinking songs, guitar and banjo interplay ramblers and country rockers in the mix. The pace of the album is
generally frenetic, but they can also slow things down a tad. Always, the sound is uniquely their own. It’s hard not to love this album for the diversity and flexibility shown alone, to say nothing of some great songs that collectively define the band’s sound. The Breeze kicks it off with a
bang: shared vocals, keening guitars, tasty banjo licks, feedback and a great start-and-stop stutter vibe. Waitin’ channels early k.d. lang
with a lot of oomph added. Golden Grease is slithery and
fluid. It starts with banjo and snare drum cajoling the whispery vocals, builds and falls, sinewy bass and guitar lines complimenting the driving romp and heightened vocals
www.bounder.ca BILL MACPHERSON
of the song as it progresses. It’s a great tune that grabs you and carries you along for the ride. No Good showcases Ms. Richardson’s divine vocal
power as the band builds in volume and strength, then eases off; guest keyboards and a guitar solo add to the to- and-fro before Richardson takes it from a hum to a blast in an instant. Ain’t It Hard continues the melodic extremes from
harsh to soft, anchored by a powerhouse rhythm section, delectable guitar and banjo. The band then cranks it up with a couple of flat out burners – Still Sober (After All These Beers) and the
continued on page 47
MUSIC REVIEW
BOUNDER MAGAZINE 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72