The Cure For What Ails You
F. Hagan | Raleigh, North Carolina, USA | 04/15/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It isn't easy playing music some might consider a niche genre in the 21st century. Musicians that don't embrace the sultry, money covered mistress of pop have to be very clever in the menu selection for their play lists. Jump Jones has mastered this art form, because they know who they are and they know what they play. More than a cover band, Jump Jones is raucous, hardcore jump blues standards with a well-thought out approach to material that spans classic rock n' roll, swing, and jazz . The band has this special potion for sale in their new release "Snake Oil Remedies for the Modern Condition (Blitz Studios)." Blues standards like "911" and personal favorite "It Should've Been Me" invoke a fun west coast feel, and fast Lindy pieces like "Bloodshot Eyes" and "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" make the dancers brim with infectious energy. Rock n' roll is well-represented in the two Bill Haley tribute tracks "Shake Rattle and Roll" and "See You Later Alligator," giving a jump blues polish to kicking all-to-well-known arrangements. This is a serious dance album, with a great mix of tempo and styling from classics like "Saturday Night Fish Fry" to beautiful instrumentation like "Doxy." Based purely on musicality and song selection, this would be an excellent addition to a dance deejay's library without question. The band shares its vocal duties, and that allows for different feels to specific ideas without changing the overall sound of the band. Mike Towe, Jamie Tobitt, Garth Robbins, Jon Harford, and Steve Azola work well as a team of seasoned musicians, and may be just the cure for your retro music collection as their album title most assuredly suggests."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1