"I had the immense privilege of watching this project unfold daily online and being at the concert at JJ's Cantina in Rocky Point, Mexico. For those of you who don't know, RCPM wrote and recorded a song per day in eight days and then debuted them at a concert at the end of the week. This CD is the culmination of that experiment. I've always loved this band but the quality of what was created, under so much pressure and such a short period of time is incredible. This CD is NOT "pretty good for only being done in eight days". This CD is better than a lot of what you've heard in a very long time! My personal faves: State of the Art- it's just a musically perfect song. Every part contributes so much to the whole (and who doesn't love Sha-la-la's!!) Summer #39- When I first heard it I mentioned to some friends that the song makes me sigh with contentment every time I hear it. A million listens later and that hasn't changed. Mercy- Just... wow. Persephone- This one will haunt you."
A Worthy Rebound
Las Vegas Cowboy | 05/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"8 songs written and recorded and distributed in 8 days.
A daunting task that few artists would choose to undertake, but after the chilly reception of their previous album due to what some have called it's over-produced sound, Roger Clyne and Cliff Norrell hatched this plan. And let's just say it worked.
The the visceral and raw sound that emanates from the speakers elicits a feel that these songs weren't just forced out, but needed to be made. It is a cathartic album that stands more as a statement to it's bold attempt than for any individual song, and that statement is "We still got it."
The great thing about this album is that when they get their ideas, they fire them off, and move on. There's no sitting around with a song, playing with it for three weeks or a month, only to find that the one chord is still alluding them, and junking it. Here it's get it down and move.
This is an album that both the band and the fans can be proud of. This is what happens when a band strips itself bare and finds out what's at it's core. And for Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, this is a very good thing.
If you are unfamiliar with RCPM, this might just be the introductory album for you, alluding to their previous work, while not repeating it."
Done on the fly, and we have a winner!!!
Larry Davis | NYC/Long Island, NY | 09/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This record/DVD combo just proves what Roger, PH, Steve & Nick (as well as producer Clif Norrell & unofficial 5th member Jason Boots) have at their core...pure greatness...after stepping outside their comfort zone and putting creative pressure on themselves...just to see if it could be done, success or failure...
The task...go down to Cholla Bay, Mexico, set up shop in a house, bring a portable studio...and do 8 songs in 8 days, everything from creation to arranging, recording as a band, mix and master, 1 song per day, from morning to night...and they gosh darn pulled it off!!!
I still think their prior album, "No More Beautiful World" was their best, and this is almost as great. Some cool and unexpected new directions, and it's really fresh. Here's the breakdown:
1-- "I Speak Your Language"...a cool, albeit typical, Roger pop tune, relaxing and upbeat and breezy and catchy.
2-- "State Of The Art"...really creative and complex...this gave Steve a migraine headache woking out the parts...but totally satisfying and melodic...
3-- "I Know You Know"...killer loud powerpop!!! Sorta like Tom Petty meets Cheap Trick meets AC/DC...yes really...for some reason, the chorus reminds me of "Cigarette Dangles" by Canucks ThePursuitOfHappiness...it's all good.
4-- "Summer #39"...atmospheric alt-country...with a haunting dobro slide part by Steve...done spontaneously and awesomely.
5-- "Mercy"...whatta song!!! Has a hook that hits you between the eyes, and a great, passionate vocal by Roger...one of RCPM's finest moments, easily.
6-- "I Can Drink The Water"...very cool, jammy but catchy, War-like tune, with a complex arrangement and bilingual lyrics...sounds like tough one to work out, but they did it...written on a boat on the ocean...sure sounds like it!!!
7-- "I Do"...sorta like a cousin of "I Know You Know"...loud powerpop that kicks arse!!!
8-- "Persephone"...see "Summer #39", but solo and Steve adding atmospherics.
More tunes added: 9-- "Manana"...a party tune that started as a goof in Day 5's closing video...never meant to be a song at all, until the band got requests to turn it into a song, so they did, and it's fun fun fun.
10-- "Captain Suburbia"...a holdover from NMBW that fits better here...Roger's kids sing harmony on the "Hey Now" part...a catchy tune that grew on me.
11-- "Mexicosis"...another holdover, first featured on their iTunes-only EP "Four Unlike Before"...it's a catchy but quirky ditty that grew on me as well.
Now, that's not all...along with this 11-track platter of greatness, a Jason Boots shot-and-edited DVD is included, documenting the whole "Turbo Ocho" experience, broadcast over the internet as "Vivacasts", and then some...this sucker is over 2 1/2 HOURS long!!!! Talk about value for money, and you see Roger & the guys in their element and having fun, plus interviews and some footage from their JJ's Cantina show in Rocky Point, after "Turbo Ocho" was finished.
It all cements RCPM"s greatness, period."
Hope it's not the beginning of the end
joshua erde | marlton, nj, usa | 10/30/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a RC fan since he was with the Refreshments and have been an avid RCPM fan since it was formed. I have bought every album and seen him live more times than any other band I like (including going to Mexico for his Circus Mexicus weekend party). He is by far my favorite artist and I respect the hell out of him and his whole band. But, I hate to say, I was very disappointed with Turbo Ocho. It was a fun idea but it lacks the classic witty, clever, and intelligent lyrics that Roger is known for. It is too repetitive and not as melodic as his better albums. Sure, there are a couple good songs, but I feel it is his weakest effort to date. I am hoping it is just because they gave themselves a difficult goal to meet - obviously it is easier to write great 8 songs when you give yourselves a realistic amount of time to do so. For every 8 great songs a band writes, they usually have at least that many that didn't 'make the cut.' I think that the songs on T8 would have made a decent 'B-sides' collection.
I am hoping this is just an ugly zit on the RCPM discography and that future efforts will go back to likes of Americano and everything before it. Not that I don't like 'No More Beautiful World' but I like the earlier albums more (despite the fact that NMBW has my all time favorite RCPM song, 'Contraband'). And even if their future albums don't get any better, I will continue to see RCPM whenever they come to town as they are still the best and most fun band I've ever seen live.
ROGER - take your time writing your songs, please!"
Roger Clyne - Turbo Ocho
T. Snyder | AZ | 05/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers for several albums now. I would highly recommend any of their albums to anyone who enjoys real good music. And I would definitely also recommend the newest "Turbo Ocho" too.
When I put the CD in, it gave me that nice familiar feeling of listening to a Roger Clyne album. That's not to say that change is bad, but this newest keeps in the tradition of the older albums. He's not really changing it up and throwing a huge curveball by doing some funky, crazy experiments here.
I like to describe Roger Clyne's music as this - do you like that old school John Cougar Mellancamp and maybe back when Bon Jovi was making awesome records? And do you like a little Mexican flavor thrown in? Because that's basically what you've got here.
Listening to the album brings a smile to my face. I can't see how you couldn't hate/ dislike this album. It's just good ol fashioned guitar-based Americana/ alt-country music at its finest, with a little salsa thrown in.
I think this is a very solid album. A worthy addition to my collection. It's maybe not the best place for a newbie to start, but it's a hundred times better than a lot of the other CD's you could be buying."