Mustard Couch - "Five Songs"

Album review by Mark Cuthbertson

The sounds of the seventies live on with a twist of everything else in this band - bluesy, funky, loungey, wah-laden guitar sounds and solos. Andy Smith's voice is reminiscent of Scott Weiland in the more intense moments and melts into ethereal falsetto phrases over the mellower ones. The five songs have more seventh chords in them than Tony Levin could shake his Chapman stick at. Each song showcases a different flavor of the band's sound: moderate funk-rock, mostly in unison; experimental (for a bluesy band), edgy, and layered; disco-era funk music with rapped verses and half-time soul ballad choruses; unison riff-based dirty blues; smooth, loungey ballad.

It's been a very long time since I heard an album with a guitar solo on each song. Although Bread Becker's solos are interesting, musical, and avoid excessive ego tripping, they are always played over something that's already appeared once or twice in the song. Despite their stylistic differences, each song shares this same blueprint. Had two or three of the five featured an additional (bridge) section with either vocals or guitar soloing over it, the album would have achieved a more successful display of overall variety.

Those most (orally?) fixated on the vocals of a song will not be let down on this record. The melodies are dynamic, flowing, and catchy enough to sing along if one can match his range. The words are sometimes hard to understand, but the emotion and musical intent is clear and appropriate on almost every note.

Despite the heavy influence of blues, funk, and rock fusion, this group manages to hold my attention by mixing and matching the various shades of the mostly-blue palette. Each of the band members plays a key role in establishing the groove of these songs and thrives in the moments when they separate to form rich layers which could stand alone as music. The second song on this disc, "Seven," features a bold, catchy 7/4 groove established by drummer Darin Anderson and bassist Jeff Romines in the verses and a straightforward chorus. Becker layers some tasteful and interesting riffs over the groove when Smith rests and locks in with Anderson and Romines underneath the vocals. The melody is catchy and well sung without copying the rhythm of the music. Most groups, especially those rooted in the blues sounds, never venture into this sort of territory.

--Mark Cuthbertson

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