CD REVIEWS
By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Hot Buttered Rum
“Limbs Akimbo”
Hot Buttered Rum
Fair or unfair, there is a tendency to categorize every jam band as descendents of the Grateful Dead. But San Francisco-based Americana band Hot Buttered Rum truly reminds me of the Bay Area band who four decades ago also got its start by playing acoustic blues, jazz, bluegrass and country music augmented by drums — but without the lengthy jams. And while it might be unfair to compare a relatively new group of seven years to rock legends like the Grateful Dead, it is difficult not to draw such a comparison when listening to “Limbs Akimbo,” replete with laid-back grooves, a familiar sound, multiple lead singers (including those eerily close to that of Jerry Garcia) and a melting pot of roots-rock. No wonder they proclaim their music to be “a high-altitude acoustic experience.” CV — Michael Swanger
(Hot Buttered Rum performs Thursday, Oct. 22 at 9 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews. $15.)
Tigercity
‘Ancient Lover’
Tigercity
Straight out of a late ’70s, early ’80s dance party is the Brooklyn, N.Y., based Tigercity. Playing some of the funkiest songs these ears have heard, the band’s first full release is a masterful mix of electro-driven pop that will have listeners singing along in their car or dancing alone in their bedroom. “Fake Gold,” the best song of the bunch, starts the album off and instantly causes the listener to start grooving. But that’s only the beginning; “Ancient Lover” continues to roll from top to bottom with great tunes likes “QuickSand,” “Matter of Time” and “My Type.” The entire album is good, but two songs, “Mallory” and “A Better Place,” are stuck in my head, reminiscent of The Cars and Tangerine Dreams. The group played at the Vaudeville Mews last month and even though there were only a handful of people, everyone danced their asses off, which is exactly what you’ll want to do while listening to “Ancient Lover.” CV — Jared Curtis
