Gaetano Letizia & the Underworld Blues Band. Voodoo Doll and Other Blues Lessons.

Gaetano Letizia & the Underworld Blues Band.  Voodoo Doll and Other Blues Lessons.

Letizia Music, 2014.  Gaetano Letizia:  http://www.gaetanoletizia.com/

Underworld Blues Band:  http://www.underworldblues.com/

Older veterans of the Northeast Ohio blues/jazz scene, the Underworld Blues Band describes itself as a “progressive” blues band that came together in 2010. The star of the show is guitarist/singer Letizia, but the core of the group is both Letizia and Larry Keller, along with newcomer and/or replacement Steve Renko (Mike D’Elia is listed as the drummer on the website).  Letizia has decades of experience, with multiple bands going at once (his jazz trio with some other guys, as well as solo work).  This background is reflected in the sophisticated stylings and the varying combinations of blues, jazz, fusion, funk, and other stuff in the dozen tunes presented here.  While they often play standards in concert (Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and others), here they’ve chosen to present a dozen originals.  No credits on songwriting show up, but I suspect that Letizia was involved in most if not all of them.  On this album the core group gets some help from Jake Tijerina on keyboards, which adds both depth and breadth to their sound.  

The band starts off the album with a funky blues instrumental, which does a nice job of showing off their collective and individual talents.  Letizia’s guitar gives way at the halfway mark to solos by Tijerina on organ, Keller on bass, with a bit of time at the end for Renko on drums.  The other instrumental, “Orange Sunglasses,” is in more of a jazz vein, less high-octane, but another fine showcase for the musicians.  Letizia’s guitar can be gentle or blistering, pinpoint or fuzz-heavy, depending on the mood, but in all cases demonstrates truly fine playing.  Kudos to Tijerina, as I love the organ in this context, and his work is phenomenal.  The title track is a humorous excursion into the singer’s pecadillos and the rectification of the situation through magical means.  It’s here where an alternative meaning to “progressive” starts to appear, with lyrics beginning to eschew the traditional bad boy and misogynist talk of so many blues songs.  “Kill My Conscience” is in a similar vein, with the singer wrestling with desires vs. doing what’s right.  “The Devil is a Nice Guy” offers a bit of parody, and “Sold My Soul” presents a similar theme of compromised values, but in a more serious context.  The good vs. evil theme seems to follow through quite a bit of the album, and provides a lyrical context a cut above most blues songs in sophistication.  Surrounding the lyrics is some dynamite jazz/funk/blues by all involved.

“Hurt Myself” takes us back to a more basic blues sound, with Bobby Huszar on vocals, who reminds me a bit of Jon Hendricks (of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross fame).  The mood continues to change through the second portion of the album, with “Bleed” and “All I Need” lean more towards rock, although the latter contains some sweet acoustic guitar work by Letizia.  Curiously, “Blow the Blues Away” seems more rock than blues as well, while “Torture Me’ is back to the blues, and fits thematically better with material at the beginning of the album.  Blistering solo work by Letizia continues.  The group finishes up with a jazzy pro-Cleveland anthem, complete with monologue, that doesn’t sit quite right with the rest of the album from my perspective, but would certainly go over well in concert.  

This is a fascinating album, with Letizia and the band to be congratulated on their sophisticated musicianship and enjoyable songs.  They play around the area, so catch them when you can.

Personnel:  Gaetano Letizia (guitar, vocals), Larry Keller (bass guitar), Steve Renko (drums), Jake Tijerina (keyboards), Bobby Huszar (lead vocals on “Hurt Myself”), Ro Brown (background vocals).

Tracks:  Big Foot, Voodoo Doll, Kill My Conscience, The Devil is a Nice Guy, Sold My Soul, Hurt Myself, Bleed, All I Need, Blow the Blues Away, Torture Me, Orange Sunglasses, Big Secret.  (Track listings for “All I Need” and “Bleed” are reversed on CD)

The Grand Wazoo

Super Awesome Macho. Deep Water

Super Awesome Macho.  Deep Water.

Self-released, 2014.  Super Awesome Macho: https://www.facebook.com/SuperAwesomeMacho

Finally, we get an opportunity for the big time; reviewing a CD before its release party! Super Awesome Macho hails from Medina, and has kicked around the underground punk circuit for a few years before finally releasing this full-length album.  Their release party will be at the Grog Shop on December 19th, so be there or keep your hearing.  Clearly not shy or modest, these four gentlemen are the latest incarnation of the band, having been through a few personnel changes since their start.  Pete Wildman, former drummer, is now the lead vocalist, and provides the necessary boldness and aplomb  needed to front this clamorous but effective band.  

Describing a band with reference to other bands is sometimes critics’ shorthand for “I can’t really describe the music,” but I can describe the music, so I’ll do both.  Songs are loud, snotty, and short, in the fine tradition of punk music, but with a bit more sophistication, since they throw in some good solo breaks.  Steve Dixon borrows from both garage and surf traditions in his playing, most evident in tunes such as “TMKASE” and “Complete & Total,” where he shines on long guitar runs.  The rhythm section of the Walker Boys is, well, rock solid, keeping everything to the point.  Wildman’s singing is appropriately rough-and-tumble, which is what one is usually looking for in a punk/garage band.  The songs are well-performed, nicely recorded, and often clever (cases in point, “Bus to Youngstown” and “Pill Poppin Mama”).  I must admit that the last track, at six seconds, is a mystery to me.  The real last song, “FSU,” is a concert track, with extended wild applause at the end (unless they grafted it on for self-aggrandizement).  

As for comparisons, their publicity mentions the Mummies, the Misfits, and the Stooges. I would add a touch of Ramones, Whiskey Daredevils, and a pinch of Dick Dale. If you’re looking for some good, loud punk music, you won’t go wrong with Super Awesome Macho. Check out their show at the Grog Shop, and pry open your wallet for Deep Water.

Personnel:  Greasy Steve Dixon (guitar), James “The Gooch” Walker (bass, backing vocals), Neil “The Animal” Walker (drums), TX Pete Wildman (vocals).

Tracks:  Main Event, Celebrity, Beatnik Beach, Bus to Youngstown, Death by Unicorn, Truck Drivin Daddy, Me vs. You, Pill Poppin Mama, TMKASE, Bad Ass, Complete & Total, FSU, 1<3U.  (Most songs written by Dixon and Wildman)

Wansdog

Recent Additions to the Library's NEO Music Collection

Recent Additions to the Hiram College Library’s NEO Music Collection.

We’ve been very busy the past three months, and so haven’t been able to make a list of the older stuff we’ve added to the collection.  But here it finally is, and it’s wonderful!  The variety of Northeast Ohio music is amazing, and it’s truly surprising to discover who has roots here.  Take a look---

Pop/Rock:

Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts.  Temporary People.  (2008 release by this Akronite)

Cletus Black.  Shades of Black.  (The country rocker brought this out in 1996)

The Dreadful Yawns.  Early.  (Cleveland band’s debut album, from 2003)

Steve Hauschildt.  Tragedy & Geometry.  (Electronica from Bay Village)

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.  A Portrait of a Man and His Woman.  (1972 album from this Clevelander--how many of you knew that?)

Howard Hewett.  The Very Best of Howard Hewett.  (2001 hits collection from this R&B/Gospel Akron native)

Marti Jones.  Match Game.  (Not too many singer-songwriters come out of Uniontown.  From 1986)

Mary Martin & the Tuna Band.  Mary Martin & the Tuna Band.  (Re-release of one of their 80s albums)

Maureen McGovern.  Greatest Hits.  (Best-of set from this songstress from Youngstown)

Midnight Syndicate.  Vampyre: Symphonies from the Crypt.  (Gothic mood music based out of Chardon)

Pretenders.  Last of the Independents.  (Chrissie Hynde & Co. in a 1994 release)

Suede Brothers.  I’ll New You.  (Maybe that’s the name of their second album, and maybe it isn’t.  All of their albums seem to be called Suede Brothers)

Blues/Miscellaneous

The Boondockmen.  Swing Batter Swing: Tribe Fan Anthem 97.  (All the rage when the Indians went to the series.  We picked it up for a buck.)

Travis Haddix.  What I Know Right Now.  (1992 release by this blues guitarist & singer)

Jazz:

Joe McBride.  Lookin’ for a Change.  (2009 date by the pianist and singer, with Hiram’s own Dan Wilson on guitar!)

Mike Petrone Trio.  Live at Turner’s Mill.  (Mid-90s concert at the former swanky restaurant in Hudson.  Not that it’s no longer swanky, just that it’s no longer.)

Jimmy Scott.  Moon Glow.  (2003 release by the recently deceased jazz singer)

Classical:

Robert Schumann.  Piano Music.  (Pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi currently teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music)

Nancy

Mark McGuire. Along the Way.

Mark McGuire.  Along the Way.

Dead Oceans, 2014.  Mark McGuire:  https://www.facebook.com/MarkMcguireMusic

Progtronica is the term Mark McGuire uses to describe his music.  I guess that’s as good a term as any, and it saves me the trouble of coming up with one myself.  Originally from Cleveland, and a former member of Emeralds, McGuire is now in Los Angeles.  He continues to produce music and art (this is his third full-length album), and it would be best to get this CD reviewed now, as he has already released a digital EP since this came out.  We’ll stick with this for now.

“This story is an odyssey through the vast, unknown regions of the mind, the endless unfolding of psychological landscapes, leading to perpetual discoveries and expansions, in a genuinely emergent and infinite world of worlds.”  (from the accompanying story- booklet).  So, these are love songs.  You scoff, but later in the booklet, McGuire refers to Love as “the true life-blood of the planet,” and the thread of discussion about the music leads back to this theme in a variety of ways, from awakening of consciousness, to the quest for the understanding of existence, the nature of loneliness and evil, spiritual growth and compassion, interconnection and change, and the self in the world.  Heavy and heady stuff, but useful as a guide to working one’s way through the fascinating array of musical compositions.  Not that it’s necessarily work (in the negative sense), because the music itself is a beautiful set of interrelated tracks that one can listen to without considering McGuire’s take on his own work.  It’s approachable at many levels, from deepest thought about McGuire’s conceptions to meditation on one’s own, to background music.  Your choice, and consume as you will.

While McGuire’s music is electronic/ambient in the broad sense, it is also guitar-laden, which tends to give it a propulsive quality that much ambient music lacks.  Reminiscent of some work by Steve Reich or Brian Eno, it sometimes it heads in the direction of rock music (“The Instinct”) or film music (“The War on Consciousness”), other times it takes different qualities, incorporating spoken word dialogue or sung lyrics, distortion and fuzz, or light and airy electronica.  But in all cases the production is multi-layered and complex and harmonically lovely, making each listening an enjoyable experience and an opportunity to hear new things.  The music is lighter in tone than the booklet’s musings would suggest in some places, but that doesn’t bother me.  Organized into four broad parts, each with several sections, he presents a framework for understanding his philosophical underpinnings and the unfolding of a life.  He’s telling a story, and it is a coherent and fascinating perspective.  I don’t know if I go along with it all the way, but I appreciate his explicit and honest approach.  

The music is simultaneously fun and serious.  Again, you pick, in an and/or kind of way.  It is also gorgeous and highly recommended.

Personnel:  Mark McGuire (electric and acoustic guitars, bass, vocals, piano, synthesizers, keyboards, drum machines, acoustic percussion, talkbox, mandolin, effects and electronics).

Tracks:  Part I,  To All Present in the Hall of Learning: Awakening, Wonderland of Living Things, In Search of the Miraculous, To the Macrobes (where do I go?); Part II, The Age of Revealing:  Silent Weapons (the architects of manipulation), The Instinct; Part III, After the Heavy Rains:  The Human Condition (song for my Father), For the Friendships (along the way), Arrival Begins the Next Departure; Part IV, To the Palace of the Self: The War on Consciousness, The Lonelier Way, Turiya (the same way).

Jeff Wanser

Goodnight Tonight. Watch the Rain.

Goodnight Tonight. Watch the Rain.

2013, Goodnight Tonight.  Goodnight Tonight:  http://www.wearegoodnighttonight.com/

Okay, time for an old guy to take on a young rock band.  This group has been tearing the place up for a couple of years.  From Kent, and previously known as Noize in the Basement, they’ve won a bunch of awards, including the TRI-C Rock Off in 2013, and most recently the 2014 Indie Music Channel Awards for Best Alternative Teen Artist, and Best Teen Band of the Year.  Not a bad start.  They’ve been around since 2008 under their previous incarnation, and have put out several other releases.  This latest is an EP, an enjoyable mix of high octane pop/punk, with good guitar work and driving beats, exactly the sort of band I like to hear.  I especially enjoy female vocals and Emily Gambone provides that with flare and aplomb (should I use that word?).  And, they seem to still be in high school.  I could barely eat with a spoon at their age.

Six tracks is not much to judge them on, but it certainly gives a pleasant enough taste.  Most of the songs are uptempo, except for the somewhat slower last two tracks, “Lieutenant James,” and “Back on My Feet,” midtempo tunes that have an anthemic quality.  I particularly like the hooks on the faster tunes, with “The Only Thing I Know” and “Thunderstorm” taking the lead in that department.  My only complaint is that the lyrics mostly deal with romantic problems, and they should consider songs about other topics as well.

Overall, this is a band with a fresh sound and good songs, well played and well produced.  According to their Facebook site, they have added Drew Spreitzer on lead guitar, and somehow lost their drummer, Logan McNeal.  We’ll see how that changes the sound of the band.  

Personnel:  Emily Gambone (vocals, guitar), Holly Camp (bass guitar), Logan McNeal (drums).

Tracks:  The Only Thing I Know, Poison, Thunderstorm, Because of You, Lieutenant James, Back on My Feet.

The Grand Wazoo

Mike G. Dream Land.

Mike G. Dream Land.

Self-Produced, 2013.

Mike G:  https://www.facebook.com/michael.george.127648?fref=ts

"Anything is possible when you believe in you. Dream Land is mine and I'm about to make it true."

An artist's first official foray into the medium of music can be fraught with challenges from all sides, whether issues arise due to lack of experience or simply maintaining confidence on where they want to go creatively. There's plenty of those out there with aspirations that burn out in the midst of the recording process and get fried before even finishing, not able to turn their hopes and ambitions into the realities they want. And then there are those that succeed. With much tact and due effort Mike G's debut album Dream Land delivers an impressive center stage show and exhibits how well self-produced content can come to form. Without batting an eye this artist has carved out a gem that, while not without flaws, distinguishes itself as a strongly composed album.

To guard against overpraising this album's production I'm going to briefly note here at the outset that it's startling how well done every track is laid down with its beats and rhythms, with any and every song only resembling one another in excellence and little else. This is the kind of variety you want in the circular musical garden that is a compact disc. It's rewarding and crisp material of all kinds, by far the strongest and most robust pillar of Dream Land, with producers Raymond Wellington, Torean George, and of course Mike G doling out some righteousness here.

Early on a number of phenomena jump out in "Bright Lights," with an emerald flow of beats and guest appearance by Duece that together serve as reason enough to go out and get this album. However you try to frame the splendor in the song what certainly garners praise is the very professional finish and shine to it, from the easy-listening lyrics, to the catchy refrain, to the halcyon flight of its pulse the track awes and stuns, something anyone should share with friends and those wanting a taste of fresh sound. Mike G and Duece definitely picked a star from the ether with this one.

There is contrast to the brilliance of "Bright Lights," though, with other content on the album not twinkling as stunningly when it comes to the vocals. On matters of Mr. G's voice there are on occasions a lingering flatness when he's rounding off some lines of his work. It's not like he's mired in a monotone so much as that he doesn't sound at all in the moment of certain scenes, like the verses just weren't hitting him in the right place inspirationally. This is odd to consider since he made the album, but the lack of force behind certain verses is noticeable, slowing to a bit of a plod in terms of energy. It's not reasonable to expect the guy to go full-throttle and warp speed all the time the way someone like, say, the legendary Twista can, but the lulls somewhat tarnish the pace of his otherwise good cascades of rhyme. It's entirely possible that Mike G may just be an extremely chill guy that doesn't feel the need to to surge out his verses the way other hip-hop artists prefer to. Either way, it's his choice for how aggressively he uses his voice and no one else's, but a bit of feeling would have made certain moments in the album far more engaging to hear.

As far as the subject matter goes for Dream Land some of what's here is what you might expect a man in his mid-twenties to sing about: money ("Money Is tha Motive"), partying ("How We Party"), and sex ("Wett Dreamz"). For whatever reason farting, a significant staple of activity in the time period between 20 and 30, is not covered, a void that is stylistically understandable since Mike G may not have wanted to go there just yet. As far as complexity there are certain entries that feel fairly straightforward for what they're all about. For instance, "Wett Dreamz" is pretty much Mike G talking about how great he is at making women horny, complete with repeated invocations about what he wants to do physically with said persons of the female gender. Behold:  "I'm a nice guy. Let you pick the weapon of choice. 'Cause I guarantee the thought of either one that'll leave you quite moist. Tongue game right. Lay deep pipe. You know what? Change my name to Mr. Amazing Mike."

As you can probably see little is left to the imagination when the bulge in Mike G's pants takes over his singing for him. The song does not approach the same level of natiform-centric genius that Sir Mix-A-Lot can bring (in all sincerity that man is a visionary) but, really, the words are only being what they intend to be--raunchy and raw as a steak served at a roadside strip club. Those seeking Victorian elegance and Shakespearean romance as opposed to schlock erotica would do best to look elsewhere. The artists making guest appearances on the single-focus songs are at the top of their game, fortunately, with forces like Double Cup Boyz and the devilishly stoked R-Sin showing their prowess at the mic.

Suggesting that the focus of Mike G's words are all so simple in caliber wouldn't be accurate, for the record. The production level of the album is absolutely to be commended and studied by anyone desiring a precedent of how to get your sound right on a self-produced album, but the imagery as told by the lyrics can have its more developed moments. The first and last songs of the album, "The Awakening" and "Dream Land," are more layered than the rest, along with another track "F.A.M.E." that hones in on the idea of fulfillment, with the acronym F.A.M.E. standing for "Found All My Everything" as opposed to just mere fame with a lower-case "f." So there are developed points of interest among the more basic tunes.

There is one peculiar aspect of Mike G and Dream Land that really comes off as surprising: the relative obscurity of information on the Internet surrounding this man and his only album. Aside from a little niche on Amazon and a tiny custom site playing bites of the music Mike G is nowhere to be found. This East Clevelander's got talent so at the very least he deserves to give himself a free Wordpress or Blogspot site to spread news about it.  (Editor’s Note: Mike G has a Facebook site (see above link), and is currently serving in the military.  He has another album in the works, and is sharing songs on his FB page.)

What remains at the end of an experience with Dream Land is the realization that Mike G is a highly capable and competent musician. There are definitely minuses to go with the merits here but the bottom line is that it is immensely impressive that someone could bring together something of this skill on their first release. There might be heavy criticisms for what could have been done better but the production craftsmanship is very laudable, and with a bit of luck (as well as substantially better self-promotion) Mike G could easily see himself at the helm of a very successful record label- provided he keeps at it. Without a doubt this is a guy that's got not only potential but something he wants to say to the world. Here's to hoping that he follows his dreams.

Personnel: Mike "Michael George" G

Tracks: The Awakening, Bright Lights (feat. Duece), Game Change, Step In Show Out, How We Party (feat. Double Cup Boyz), 3G'z (feat. Sema'j Strugglez, Gez), Money is tha Motive (feat. R-Sin), Sweet Heart, C.A.G. (feat. Duece), Heat Roc, Watch Me, All Eyes on Me, Wett Dreamz (feat. Duece), What Do You See, F.A.M.E. (Found All My Everything), Dream Land.

Robert Gojo

A thoughtful Mike G.  Stay well, and come home safe.

Sean Jones. im.pro.vise: Never Before Seen

Sean Jones.  im.pro.vise: Never Before Seen.

Mack Avenue Records, 2014.  Jones:  http://seanjonesmusic.com/

Sean Jones has been remarkably busy, although this is nothing new for him.  He is the Artistic Director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, has taught at both Duquesne University and Oberlin College, and is now at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  He has managed to put out seven albums now as leader (aside from the CJO stuff), and worked as a sideman on lots more.  In his spare time he composes,  advocates for jazz, and helps to start jazz orchestras, as well as reading philosophy on the side.  Having graduated from YSU only in 2000, one might be tempted to label him an overachiever, but when you listen to him play, you realize that he’s both driven and remarkably skilled with his trumpet, his leadership, and his vision.  

This latest album, celebrating his tenth anniversary with Mack Avenue, finds him with some of the same excellent musicians who appeared on his last release, No Need for Words, although this album strips out several instruments and gets down to the basics of a quartet.  Jones says in the album notes (and his blog) that he wants to reintroduce himself, relaunch himself, recreate himself.  Thus, he keeps this one simple with no overdubs and everybody-in-the-studio intimacy.  He succeeds in every way.  

Jones’ trumpet style has many influences, including Miles Davis, Woody Shaw, and Freddie Hubbard, and he gets the hard work part both from his own personality and background as well as some time spent with Wynton Marsalis.  He brings in everything to this album, including seven of his own compositions (Evans contributed “Don’t Fall off the L.E.J.”), a couple of standards and a Jackie McLean tune, “Dr. Jekyll.”  The title of the first track, “60th and Broadway,” comes from the location of the Rose Theater of the Lincoln Center in New York City, where Jones has spent much time, and is a good place to start.  It begins with Jones and Obed Calvaire, then builds to include the other musicians, but showcases Jones’ virtuosity while giving ample time to Orrin Evans.  Calvaire is never out of the picture, and the interaction among the musicians is obvious and delightful.  This continues throughout the album.  The ballad “Dark Times” seems to borrow a riff from “It Ain’t Necessarily So” as a starting point, and moves into an exploratory, contemplative mood for all.  This continues with “Interior Motive,” although here the rhythm section is more noticeable (now I hear bits of “I Want to Be Happy”), and “The Morning After.”  Later in the album, “We’ll Meet Under the Stars” takes a similar approach.  All hold the attention and please the ear with gentle yet sophisticated playing by all members.  The presence of Orrin Evans cannot be overlooked, as he plays a key role in every tune.

The quartet changes its mood with “I Don’t Give a Damn Blues,” which shows how well they can play in a traditional style, a good test for a band.  It’s all Jones on the McLean tune, fast and furious.  A second test comes with a standard--what can you do with a song from 1940?  As it turns out, quite a bit.  With a solo by Luques Curtis and some fine work by everyone, they play “How High the Moon” like nobody else I’ve heard.  The beauty of the melody is never far from the improvisations, but they reach into new places and find new things to say. “New Journey” gives us a more uptempo tune, but with the same amazing ensemble work demonstrated in the ballads.  Two shorter tracks fill out the album, but they’re hardly filler.  Evans’ “Don’t Fall off the L.E.J.” (I wish I knew what that meant) is jaunty and spirited, while “Not While I’m Around” is another sweet and gentle ballad.

I listened to this album several times and not a moment was wasted.  The quartet does a masterful job of putting across a variety of moods, demonstrates the benefits of spontaneous interaction, and gives great listening pleasure.  Highly recommended.

Personnel: Sean Jones (trumpet), Orrin Evans (piano), Luques Curtis (bass), Obed Calvaire (drums).

Tracks:  60th & Broadway, Dark Times, Interior Motive, The Morning After, I Don’t Give a Damn Blues, Dr. Jekyll, How High the Moon, We’ll Meet Under the Stars, New Journey, Don’t Fall off the L.E.J., Not While I’m Around.

Jeff Wanser

Maura Rogers and the Bellows. A Good Heart Will Break

Maura Rogers and the Bellows.  A Good Heart Will Break.

Self-released, 2012.  Maura Rogers and the Bellows:  http://www.maurarogers.com/

Somehow this was missed this back in late 2012 when it was released, and so I was asked to review it.  Perhaps it is time to do so before their new release arrives.  This is Rogers’ second release, the first a solo album in 2010 (Get Up Girl), and her band is, or was, relatively new when this was recorded.  A singer-songwriter from Wickliffe, she has tried her hand at acting as well (Great Lakes Theatre Festival), and worked at open-mic nights in the area as she was getting started.  She also performs as half of the Bean Sisters, with Meredith Pangrace, the accordionist for the Bellows.

Rogers wrote all the songs and is the lead singer on the album.  She has a good voice, pleasantly strong and expressive, but delicate when necessary.  Her style falls roughly into the category of Americana, with touches of country, folk, and rock in varying proportions, depending on the song.  Sometimes a Southern tinge appears in her singing (“Mama Taught Me How,” “Cowboy Song”), other times a sound that sounds more like 1960’s rock (“Gone”).  Lyrically, she deals with a broad range of themes, from love to family to life changes to sometimes more cynical topics, as in “Good Harm,” which rocks despite (or perhaps because of) the rather dark subject of the downside of fast times.  “Dirty Blonde” and “Something More” both sketch out a complex relationships. “What the Doctor Said,” the closer, deals with medical issues, an unusual topic for music these days.

The ten songs here show us ten different views of Rogers the writer and perhaps the person, and all of them are fascinating, if at times enigmatic.  Meanwhile, the band makes a successful effort to set the mood, with the focus on Meredith Pangrace, whose accordion helps to create the band’s unique sound.  The band really gets to show off on “Norma Jean” (not about Marilyn Monroe), “Good Harm,” and the other fast tunes.  If I had to pick a favorite, it has to be “Gone,” where Rogers lets loose and shows her blues side.

The band will be playing at the Beachland Tavern on November 11.  Please check them out for an evening of fine music.

Personnel:  Maura Rogers (vocals, acoustic guitar), Dan Jankowski (drums, percussion), Andy Liaskos (guitars, harmonica), Meredith Pangrace (vocals, accordion), Brent Stowe (bass), Kevin Montgomery (Hammond organ on Track 10).

Tracks:  Dirty Blonde, Something More, Cowboy Song, Mama Taught Me How, All that You Give, Norma Jean, Gone, Good Harm, This Woman, What the Doctor Said.

Gottfried Klaas