The revival of old, seemingly antiquated forms of pop music over the past couple of years has had its highs and lows. The emergence of swing-influenced bands such as the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and others, has had a positive influence on the radio airwaves, taking over from the overworked ska clichés. Unfortunately, as with any new craze, many of the swing revival bands have had very little going for them by way of talent (vocal abilities are definitely more important here than in rock) or feeling (if it doesn't have the right feel, it just isn't swing) and so have fallen flat.
Many major groups of this swing revival, such as the Brian Setzer Orchestra, are guitar-based. And it's guitar-based swing/rockabilly/roots rock of this type that we find on The Screamin' Rays' debut disc. This is a band which comes from a fine pedigree. Such notables as singer Crystal Lewis (C-Ray), drummer David Raven (Gamma Ray/David Rayven, depending where you see his name), guitarist Chris Brigandi (Sting Ray, formerly of the Lifters and Wild Blue Yonder), bassist Jonny Ray Bartel (Jonny Ray) and Christopher Rex Harvey (X-Ray, guitars) make up this talented band. Lead singer and principal songwriter "T-Ray" Meier has the right vocal nuances and inflections to do the genre justice and the band simply nails the various styles, from the Cab Calloway cover "We the Cats" to the country-tinged "Why Are You Cryin."
Guest players include producer Gene Eugene on keys, steel guitar whiz Greg Leisz, and a horn section of Doug Webb and Sal Marquez on a few of the tracks, most notably "Someday" and "Mr. Happy Go Lucky". "Going On Home" has a nearly big-band feel in its intro, thanks to the influence of the horn section.
A good deal of this album's styling and packaging trades in the fact that the music is supposed to sound like it's from the 50s. And, it largely succeeds, even reinterpreting classics like "Don't Wanna Go There" and "Glory Glory Hallelujah" along the way. About the only other recent band that this release brings to mind is The Stray Cats, also noted for their retro-50's style.
When a musical style is revisited by a band that is from another era, and has a different ethos, sometimes something can be lacking in the interpretation. Overall, however, this album is consistent in tone and in focus, and seems to be spot on. The only exception being the occasional heavy-guitar overtones (as in "Glory Glory Hallelujah", where it would definitely be a hard rock tune had the guitars been mixed down differently). For fun, spiritually uplifting music, though, it's hard to knock this album. Here we have a very talented band making the music they want to make and having a ton of fun doing it. It's easy to get caught up in that sense of fun.
As a final note, an added bonus for all the CD-ROM owners who get this album is the on-disc Bible software and interactive band promo, another nice little touch in what is certainly one of the better albums I've heard in a while.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Eric DaamsWith the swing revival in full...uh...swing, the Screamin' Rays are one of the many new bands to crash onto the scene. However, they are different from most of the new groups out there. Unlike other swing bands, the Screamin' Rays present virtually no progression from what was around so many decades ago. Male vocals sometimes frightfully similar to Elvis and the rock 'n roll guitar riffs, as well…Similar sounding releases
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