It's All About The Music
Since starting my position here at Damn Good Tunes, I have been hit up by an incalculable amount of bands. I know, I know... We all get friend requests with the slip- mentioning of the
"greatest hot new tracks", but this has been a truly insane experience for me.
Just before I started writing reviews, I had gone through and deleted a rather large bundle of bands from my Myspace, due to the simple fact that I couldn't even get to them all,so that I could listen to their over-promoted new songs.
The whole thing felt like Mickey trying to destroy his mop in Fantasia. Suddenly, there were hundreds, coming from every angle, with their water buckets ready to get down to business..
Most groups sensed I still have Rock in my soul, and therefore, this was the dominant genre who contacted me for reviews. Not that I mind at all, of course. It happens to be one of the greater perks to this business for me....However, screaming guitars and slamming drums aren't always as soothing as it once was in the past. Nowadays, I enjoy just about everything. Hell, 6 beers down, you can get me to dance to Polka in the Park. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's music.
After months of constant invites, I eventually received a letter from a man by the name of Bryan Dean, of the "Bryan Dean Trio". He wanted to know if he can send me a cd to review. I give him all the information, just as any other inquiring musician, and I check out his page. My ears were instantly relieved! My brain must have been grateful as well, because the headache I was struggling with finally faded. This band was playing the Blues, and it was exceptionally impressive.
The Trio consists of Koko, a former graduate of the University of Arizona-turned Badass-Bassist, as well as Bryan Dean's beautiful wife of 8 years. Also, Ralph Gilmore, former Grass Roots drummer, and one of the most sought out percussionists in Arizona. Bryan Dean (lead vocals/guitar), says that he considers himself lucky to know Gilmore on a personal level. Both Gilmore and Koko are regarded highly by Dean, and are considered the true foundation of the trio.
When I received Pink Elephant, I literally ran to the studio and played it immediately....only slightly backwards. The first thing I noticed? The final track is a remake of Jay Hawkins' ," I Put A Spell On You", one of my favorite songs of all time. This was going to be a huge factor for me..... The result? This trio pulled it off brilliantly! I was absolutely blown away. It seemed, at that point, that this just could not get any better. Then, the album automatically started over at the beginning...
Now, the Bryan Dean Trio do have a few other covers, such as Dickie Thomson's "Thirteen Women", which is somewhat of an unusual novelty tune about the aftermath of an atomic holocaust that leaves one man and 13 women alive. This particular song, at one point was considered controversial due to the blasphemous fantasy of having an entourage of beautiful women...
( Hugh must have missed the memo..)
The song was re-written several times to appease the "Industry Gods", but as time went by, and people were less uptight, the original became more acceptable. It was released in 1954 and more recognized as Bill Haley's attempt at breaking away from Rock and Roll. Although Haley's version is laid back, Bryan Dean speeds things up a bit, adding a slight "Jump, Jive, and Wail" feel to it. This song, performed by BDT is definitely not your typical karaoke-sounding replica. They have an extraordinary way of making every one of the cover songs their own.
Let's not focus on what covers that the Bryan Dean Trio can play though. I want to bring your attention to the original works. One of my absolute favorites is the second song on the Pink Elephant album, titled "Keep Walking". It's about that point in the relationship where things are just not worth putting the broken pieces back together. With the constant threats of "her" leaving "him" behind, he finally says...
"Alright.....go!"
I have a great respect for people who can write off the negative sources in their lives and transform them into something poetic. That, to me, is one of the main reasons for music.
Other great originals include, " My Baby Don't Like Me No More", "I Don't Know Why","Bad News", and "Have Mercy", which, sorry to my fellow ladies out there, we do nag...don't deny it. We're professionals, and we enjoy it.
This song is a mere glance at the annoyances it brings to the opposite sex. I find it hilarious, but it also makes me think twice about yelling when my man wrinkles the couch cover after working all day. So what if the pillows aren't set up the way you so-perfectly placed them! They are JUST PILLOWS! Have Mercy!
All in all, Pink Elephant is Pretty Damn Good. If I were to administer stars, I would give Bryan Dean Trio 4 out of 5, but only because some of the songs are not actually written by anyone in the Bryan Dean Trio. However, the covers are done with such an original concepts, that it doesn't even matter. All in all, the entire album is like an addictive, magical music pill. You are taken into this world of sorrow, despair, misery and woe, the basis of the Blues, and ironically you become intoxicated by a feeling of euphoria, joy and inspiration.This in turn causes you to play the album constantly, as you feel you can never get enough, and you may eventually experience the skipping-around of your favorite track. You may start noticing at this point that you too, have become a BDT addict. Once you start throwing things around looking for a wonder cure,(i.e clear-gel deodorant or that melted tube of Chapstick you swear you saw in the car 2 months ago), you might decide that it's full worth it to buy another copy. Besides, you're contributing to the underdogs. Everyone comes out happy.
Just before I started writing reviews, I had gone through and deleted a rather large bundle of bands from my Myspace, due to the simple fact that I couldn't even get to them all,so that I could listen to their over-promoted new songs.
The whole thing felt like Mickey trying to destroy his mop in Fantasia. Suddenly, there were hundreds, coming from every angle, with their water buckets ready to get down to business..
Most groups sensed I still have Rock in my soul, and therefore, this was the dominant genre who contacted me for reviews. Not that I mind at all, of course. It happens to be one of the greater perks to this business for me....However, screaming guitars and slamming drums aren't always as soothing as it once was in the past. Nowadays, I enjoy just about everything. Hell, 6 beers down, you can get me to dance to Polka in the Park. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's music.
After months of constant invites, I eventually received a letter from a man by the name of Bryan Dean, of the "Bryan Dean Trio". He wanted to know if he can send me a cd to review. I give him all the information, just as any other inquiring musician, and I check out his page. My ears were instantly relieved! My brain must have been grateful as well, because the headache I was struggling with finally faded. This band was playing the Blues, and it was exceptionally impressive.
The Trio consists of Koko, a former graduate of the University of Arizona-turned Badass-Bassist, as well as Bryan Dean's beautiful wife of 8 years. Also, Ralph Gilmore, former Grass Roots drummer, and one of the most sought out percussionists in Arizona. Bryan Dean (lead vocals/guitar), says that he considers himself lucky to know Gilmore on a personal level. Both Gilmore and Koko are regarded highly by Dean, and are considered the true foundation of the trio.
When I received Pink Elephant, I literally ran to the studio and played it immediately....only slightly backwards. The first thing I noticed? The final track is a remake of Jay Hawkins' ," I Put A Spell On You", one of my favorite songs of all time. This was going to be a huge factor for me..... The result? This trio pulled it off brilliantly! I was absolutely blown away. It seemed, at that point, that this just could not get any better. Then, the album automatically started over at the beginning...
Now, the Bryan Dean Trio do have a few other covers, such as Dickie Thomson's "Thirteen Women", which is somewhat of an unusual novelty tune about the aftermath of an atomic holocaust that leaves one man and 13 women alive. This particular song, at one point was considered controversial due to the blasphemous fantasy of having an entourage of beautiful women...
( Hugh must have missed the memo..)
The song was re-written several times to appease the "Industry Gods", but as time went by, and people were less uptight, the original became more acceptable. It was released in 1954 and more recognized as Bill Haley's attempt at breaking away from Rock and Roll. Although Haley's version is laid back, Bryan Dean speeds things up a bit, adding a slight "Jump, Jive, and Wail" feel to it. This song, performed by BDT is definitely not your typical karaoke-sounding replica. They have an extraordinary way of making every one of the cover songs their own.
Let's not focus on what covers that the Bryan Dean Trio can play though. I want to bring your attention to the original works. One of my absolute favorites is the second song on the Pink Elephant album, titled "Keep Walking". It's about that point in the relationship where things are just not worth putting the broken pieces back together. With the constant threats of "her" leaving "him" behind, he finally says...
"Alright.....go!"
I have a great respect for people who can write off the negative sources in their lives and transform them into something poetic. That, to me, is one of the main reasons for music.
Other great originals include, " My Baby Don't Like Me No More", "I Don't Know Why","Bad News", and "Have Mercy", which, sorry to my fellow ladies out there, we do nag...don't deny it. We're professionals, and we enjoy it.
This song is a mere glance at the annoyances it brings to the opposite sex. I find it hilarious, but it also makes me think twice about yelling when my man wrinkles the couch cover after working all day. So what if the pillows aren't set up the way you so-perfectly placed them! They are JUST PILLOWS! Have Mercy!
All in all, Pink Elephant is Pretty Damn Good. If I were to administer stars, I would give Bryan Dean Trio 4 out of 5, but only because some of the songs are not actually written by anyone in the Bryan Dean Trio. However, the covers are done with such an original concepts, that it doesn't even matter. All in all, the entire album is like an addictive, magical music pill. You are taken into this world of sorrow, despair, misery and woe, the basis of the Blues, and ironically you become intoxicated by a feeling of euphoria, joy and inspiration.This in turn causes you to play the album constantly, as you feel you can never get enough, and you may eventually experience the skipping-around of your favorite track. You may start noticing at this point that you too, have become a BDT addict. Once you start throwing things around looking for a wonder cure,(i.e clear-gel deodorant or that melted tube of Chapstick you swear you saw in the car 2 months ago), you might decide that it's full worth it to buy another copy. Besides, you're contributing to the underdogs. Everyone comes out happy.
Thank you to Bryan Dean Trio for the spectacular album, and for their
patience.
You truly are gifted artists and I wish you all the best to come.
-Keep it underground-keep it real-
Trinity Lost
You truly are gifted artists and I wish you all the best to come.
-Keep it underground-keep it real-
Trinity Lost
