Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:15
Size: 108.2 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2006
Art: Front
[3:25] 1. Louisiana Anna
[4:00] 2. Horsemeat
[3:19] 3. Graveside Blues
[3:10] 4. Long Way Home
[3:17] 5. So Much Love
[4:20] 6. Lotus
[4:14] 7. Monkey Card
[2:51] 8. Ain't Got The Smile
[3:07] 9. The Other Side
[2:08] 10. God Damn Job
[4:57] 11. Tired Weak Legs
[4:20] 12. Raw Head And Bloody Bones
[4:02] 13. I Belong To The Band
The two guys in Scrapomatic get a little more, well, scrappy on their sophomore release. Vocalist Mike Mattison and guitarist Paul Olsen work a stripped downed sound to reveal the gospel and Delta roots beneath their gritty swamp blues. This baker's dozen of tracks veers from the near vaudeville jazz of "Lotus" to the acoustic churchy strains of "Tired Weak Legs," the latter aided by Kristina Beaty's lovely vocals. Mattison's gruff yet malleable vocals add to the bluesy feel of the songs. His singing, which occasionally hits a Prince-styled falsetto as on the R&B drenched "Monkey Card," is consistently riveting, even when he moves too far into Tom Waits territory on the tuba enhanced opening "Louisiana Anna." Beaty takes lead on a stirring duet ballad "The Other Side" and her Susan Tedeschi-styled voice meshes well with Mattison's similarly throaty approach. A rearranged cover of the old Replacements punk track "God Damn Job" is revelatory as this version digs into the frustration at the heart of the song's rather simplistic lyrics. "Long Way Home" even brings some rustic folk-country to the equation. But it's on the slow, grinding backwoods blues like the self-explanatory "Raw Head and Bloody Bones" and "Horsemeat," both led by Olsen's greasy lead lines, that the duo best connects with its material. Despite, or maybe because of, its eclectic nature, Alligator Love Cry defines Scrapomatic as a tough and talented act comfortable in a variety of genres all infused by a rugged blues base. Mattison is a terrifically talented singer, secure with diverse styles, and guitarist Olsen likewise snakes around these often dissimilar tunes with panache and intensity. Veteran jazz/blues producer John Snyder's work here, as on the group's debut, is characteristically exemplary. He frames these songs with a lean atmosphere while highlighting the duo's synergistic vocal-guitar interplay. ~ Hal Horowitz
Recording information: Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA. Scrapomatic: Mike Mattison, "Funky" Paul Olsen.
"Funky" Paul Olsen (vocals, guitar); George Rush (vocals, tuba, acoustic bass, electric bass); Mike Mattison (vocals); Jeffrey Ryan Lipstein (drums, percussion).
Recording information: Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA. Scrapomatic: Mike Mattison, "Funky" Paul Olsen.
"Funky" Paul Olsen (vocals, guitar); George Rush (vocals, tuba, acoustic bass, electric bass); Mike Mattison (vocals); Jeffrey Ryan Lipstein (drums, percussion).
Alligator Love Cry
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:15
Size: 103.6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2012
Art: Front
[3:41] 1. Alligator Love Cry
[3:11] 2. I'm A Stranger (And I Love The Night)
[3:03] 3. Rat Trap
[4:55] 4. Night Trains, Distant Whistles
[3:14] 5. Don't Fall Apart On Me, Baby
[4:09] 6. I Surrender
[2:33] 7. The Mother Of My Wolf
[5:33] 8. Crime Fighter
[3:13] 9. Malibu (That's Where It Starts)
[4:34] 10. How Unfortunate For Me
[4:10] 11. The Party's Over
[2:54] 12. Gentrification Blues
Considering that Scrapomatic had been in existence for 14 years as of 2012, the fact that I'm a Stranger is only the collective's fourth album is surprising. However, it says less about founding members Mike Mattison and guitarist Paul Olsen not taking the group seriously, than how busy they've been on other projects. Mattison in particular had a pretty grueling schedule as singer for Derek Trucks' various bands. Regardless, their previous albums have been rootsy, diverse explorations of gospel, rock, punk, funk, and country stitched together with a strong blues thread. This one is no different except that the duo adds a third official member, guitarist Dave Yoke, who helps them run through a dozen eclectic originals that traverse territory from the swampy, straight blues shuffle of the opening "Alligator Love Cry" to the twisted music hall Tom Waits-styled waltz (with horns) of "How Unfortunate for Me." The group is at their best when letting their oddest impulses shine, as when Mattison goes falsetto on the unusual and ominous blues stomp "Crime Fighter." They shift to easygoing country-pop on "Don't Fall Apart On Me Baby" and turn into rollicking garage rockers on "The Mother of My Wolf." As you can tell from the titles, Mattison and Olsen revel in bizarre lyrical twists that add vinegar to these songs. Even though printed words are included, they don't make a lot of sense, at least on the surface. But that enhances the mystique and a sense that there is more here than meets the ears. The band is also effective when they open up and rock as on "Rat Trap," but it's Mattison's natural, soulful growl that will keep you coming back for additional helpings. The title track is the most commercial entry, with a singalong chorus you'll be humming after the first spin, and showing that when pressed, these guys can swim in the mainstream. Thankfully, though, they prefer to hover on the edge, making this another terrific addition to a small but quality catalog of offbeat roots music that never panders to its audience or takes it for granted. ~ Hal Horowitz
Recording information: Bakos Amp Works (2012); Swamp Raga Studios, Jacksonville, FL (2012).
"Funky" Paul Olsen (vocals, guitar); Mike Mattison (vocals); Dave Yoke (guitar); Mace Hibbard (tenor saxophone); Kevin Hyde (trombone); Tyler Greenwell (drums).
Recording information: Bakos Amp Works (2012); Swamp Raga Studios, Jacksonville, FL (2012).
"Funky" Paul Olsen (vocals, guitar); Mike Mattison (vocals); Dave Yoke (guitar); Mace Hibbard (tenor saxophone); Kevin Hyde (trombone); Tyler Greenwell (drums).
I'm A Stranger (And I Love The Night)