S/T by Carl Isonhart - www.sonicruin.com
This is a rather tough one to release, and if I was to do the band any justice in the world, I would review it at numerous times: One time sober and happy, another time drunk and happy, then again depressed, and finally drunk and depressed. Through all four listens, I am sure I would be coming up with different reviews.
Let me explain, The Chuckies are a 3 piece acoustic outfit (vocalist, guitar and vocals, and percussion/piano/organ) that do mostly acoustic bluesy type of stuff. By that I mean Blues by means of the Dogs D’Amour, Mike Ness and other Punk/Gutter Rock Gods that dabble in the acoustic world. Though these guy very well be into stuff like Blind Willie McTell and Blind Willie Johnson, Robert Johnson, Son House, etc., I would bet they are not raised on it. But this is no knock, what they are doing, they are doing quite well. The dual vocal aspect is the strong point of the band and when they nail it, they really nail it.
The first track “The Roof Is About To Cave In” is just such a track where the dual vocals cause your ears to perk right up. Plus the production is killer for a track of this sort. It’s a slow dirge that brings to mind sitting in a smoky bar, rocks glass in front of you (no beer served in a bar this desolate and lost), cigarette butts all around, and the Devil laughing in your face. It’s the kind of track that can be a best friend when you’re in a bad way, but it is the friend that you don’t need, the one who leads you down a dark path. It’s a brilliant track.
“Evil Empire Vampire” took me out of the song in the first verse with the “woo-hoo-hoo” backing vocals, but the chorus pulled me right back into it. It’s a bit more rocking than the first track, but still with a heavy dark cloud over head.
“Ugly Motherfucker” is a killer Boogie Woogie little number that actually rocks pretty dang good with the dual vocals causing this one to shine again. The little Spanish style guitar break in the middle of it also. I guess that is Spanish, maybe Spanish guitar meets Surf. Hell, I just looked next to me and saw a CD by Ennio Morricone, and realized that is what the breaks remind me of a bit, especially with the backing vocals.
Track four, “Hey Now” is a bit of a skipper for me. SLOW dirge, plodding dirge. I swear…do NOT be depressed and drinking while listening to this one. This is like my 5th time giving it a spin and I am really noticing this time just how much this is making me think of the Devil dealing sins and deals to the heartbroken and strung out. Damn…I really hope this is what these guys are going for! Nah…this ain’t a skipper I am realizing, but it is a definite “need to be in the right mood” or it will throw you into that mood!
Then the goofs go and give you a tune that borders on “pretty” in “Fire Alive”, with some fairly nasty lyrics (if I am hearing right). Dual vocals working again in grand ways.
O.K., I’m not sure which of the Chuckies (the three guys all are named Chuckie, not sure if that is real or not) is the voice I am about to speak of, but since it is the lead most times I am guessing it is Chuckie Ransom, but I am going to recommend this CD on his voice alone. That guy has one of the coolest voices I have heard. I’ll become a fan of the band just for him.
“158” is a pretty killer rockin’ tune. Good ol’ Rockin’ acoustic type of thing that when it ends the bar erupts. Great Rockin’ Blues that really moves.
“She Moves In Murderous Ways” is just an acoustic number, no evil sides, no depression, but a nice number to kind of give you a breath of fresh air and relax you a bit and to shake that Devil off your tail.
The last two tunes “Radio Shadow” and “Roll” continue with that walking away from the dirge feel, to the point where the last track is a downright happy, almost bouncy number! But make no bones about it, this is a band that could play at any bar in Hell, even on these last three “happy” tunes.
There are 2 more tunes on true running order, then 3 “bonus” tracks, two of which are straight mixes of “The Roof’s…” and the last track “Roll”.
See, when I first listened to this a long time ago (sorry…shit was rough and things got put aside), I thought I would have to give a bad review. Then I listened again later, and liked it a bit more. Listened a few times again yesterday, and started liking it even more. Now today, I REALLY like it. The thing is a definite grower, but it is not the CD for a bright sunny day where you find out you won the lottery. This thing is full of despair. It’s best pairing is a bottle of Jack, a cigarette, and a deal with the Devil.
