A Little Bit of Everything
Mark K. Davis | Humble, TX USA | 12/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It took me a few listens to fully appreciate this CD. It's NRBQ's first CD after the expiration of their contract with Rounder Records. Independently produced (recorded by the band in a studio and pizza parlor in Brattleboro, Vermont), some might say it lacks the polish of previous recordings. This is true to some extent, but it doesn't diminish the overall quality of the offerings. If you take a step back and consider the CD as a whole, what is most apparent is the amazing variety of musical genres represented. As such, it is a true sampling of what NRBQ is all about. Stylistically, NRBQ is often labeled as a purveyor of "omni-pop." If you want to understand what this means, listen to this CD. It's got everything from guitar-steeled rock ("Terry Got a Muffin") to harmonious ballads ("See You Soon"). There are covers of classic rock'n'roll staples ("Rip It Up") to Broadway musical numbers ("Wand'rin Star" from 1951's Paint Your Wagon). There's marching music ("21-50 to Headquarters"), a square dance reel ("Kingston Town") and even a polka ("Norma"), all transformed by the Q's magical pop-music convolutions. It's all a lot of great fun in classic NRBQ style. Buy this CD, load it into your CD player, order a pizza, then treat yourself and your friends to an evening of party food and music. This CD is more than a seemingly bizarre mélange of musical styles. It's classic Q, and it'll have you humming these tunes in your head for days to come."
A great NRBQ studio work
Scott B. Saul | COOPER CITY, FL USA | 09/02/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This cd truly represents NRBQ. It has a variety of music, showcases their incredibly diverse influences and, lastly, demonstrates their excellent musical ability. Most of all, it sounds like they are having fun playing and making the cd. NRBQ, after all, is a fun band.
"Terry's Got a Muffin" is a typical song where the band sings about themselves. "Beautiful Sunday" is a cover of something that sounds so familiar yet the band injects their own trademark onto it. "Kingston Town" is a wacky polka with a Carribean flavor. Only NRBQ can pull this off. "See you Soon" is a beautiful multi-part harmony where the whole band sings as a send-off to the listener. It is the closing song.
The best tune is "Party in My Head" where the band kicks into a jam, pulls into a awesome groove, gets all sloppy, and then pulls it back together again. It works great played live.
NRBQ is a live band and their live works act as their best, most enjoyable cds. I think that this is a strong studio work from a band that established their reputation live.
Never miss an opportunity to see them!"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1