NRBQ
Scraps
(Rounder Records)
www.rounder.com
Have you ever been told an album is essential or so-called five stars and been sadly disappointed when you finally hear it? This classic release by the 1971 in-a-state-of-flux line-up of the critically esteemed U.S. rock and roll group NRBQ has not only stood the test of time it may even be better now than anyone imagined. Since so much time has passed it seems obvious that this band was so far ahead of it’s time they were behind it. With their laconic blend of toe-tappingly good uptempo numbers mixed with tongue-in-cheek ballads this group apparently could do no wrong. Unfortunately the music world at the turn of the decade was probably not ready for players with such a high level of songwriting and playing talent unless they were the Band or something. Some of the absolute gold tracks here are the wry Magnet (I’m like a magnet, you’re like a piece of wood, hanging together, don’t make me feel so good), the toy piano-charged beauty Only You, the questioning Boys in the City, an early take on laterally rocking Ain’t It All Right and the brilliantly stupid Who Put The Garlic in the Glue? Future mainstays of the group Terry Adams, Joey Spampinato and Al Anderson are here and are clearly enjoying themselves while laying down some of the groups soon-to-be most popular concert tracks. For the time, these guys stood out so much they were virtually invisible to the record buying public.What was a consumer oversight then can now be easily remedied by everyone immediately purchasing the album. Current fans should note there are three cool previously unreleased tracks here. Necessary.
Jeff Monk
The MONk 2009 view - No such luck, I'm taking the weekend off. Keep watching this space you mothers!
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