Search - Roomful of Blues :: Thats Right

Bring back Sugar Ray Norcia

chris meesey Food Czar | 11/28/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit, I've only got one other Roomful album, "Under One Roof", and I love it to death. So, expecting the same great soulful and energetic songs with bluesy, gruff vocals, I bought "Thats Right". Boy, was I disapointed. I barely made it through the first listen of the album. The whole thing came across as rushed and forced, as if the album was done because they had to, not because they wanted to. It had no life to it. But the thing I really couldn't stand was the current vocalist! Gone was the dynamics and attitude of Sugar Ray, replacing them was a very dull, flat, non-agressive singer (he's just waaaayy too smooth for a blues singer). Over all I was very dissapointed. I can't point out one track that really stood out for me, they all sounded the same; all nicely done, but with no heart or soul to any of them."

Another great one from a blues institution!!!

Guy Pellitteri | New Orleans, LA USA | 05/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I drove home from work with this cd blaring and all the windows open. It's been a long time since I've danced in my seat through an entire cd. In spite of constant personnel changes (are there any original members left?), this band still has a feeling for jump blues like no one else in the business. I first saw them live at Tipitina's over 20 years ago and they still swing like nobody's business. Incredible horn arrangements with a fabulous rhythm section make this cd sound like it was recorded over 40 years ago. There aren't many bands like this one left. I'm glad I found this cd and became reaquainted with some old friends. From the hip swing of "I Know Your Wig is Gone" to the powerful version of the classic "Lipstick, Powder and Paint", Roomful of Blues shows they are as strong as ever."

That's Right! It is a Great CD!!

chris meesey Food Czar | The Colony, TX United States | 10/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Over the last couple of years, that swinging, swaying horn-drenched institution known as Roomful of Blues has taken a good, hard look at itself. Worried, as any artist, that their sound may be growing stale or they may be losing touch with their audience, the band ditched the rhythm and blues sound of their most recent albums and return to the more classic Roomful sound. This was accomplished with several personnel changes, most notably replacing soulful-but-somewhat-limited vocalist Mac Odom with multi-octave range singer Mark Dufresne. The results can be heard on the winning new album, That's Right. The band starts the attack right away with the hard-driving horn riffs of the title track, leaving no doubt that this is one band with horns that knows how to rock! Furthur evidence is offered by bandleader and "secret weapon" Chris Vachon, whose hard rocking guitar solo on "How Long Will It Last" unleashes his fiery gifts. "Shame, Shame, Shame" sounds like a glorious outtake from the musical Chicago, with it's jazz-age muted trumpet, while "Lipstick, Powder, and Paint" is a good update of the old r and b standard. And the horns! Have I mentioned the horns? Rich Lataille, Bob Enos, and Mark Earley are the Niagara Falls of sound, carrying the listener away to the coolest nightclub on the planet. Wow! Mark Dufresne really shows his pipes on the blues oldie "I Just Got To Know;" he is indeed an impressive, soulful singer, although he doesn't quite yet have the silken polish of Sugar Ray Norcia. With time, however, he should blossom quite nicely. In short, this is a very impressive "comeback" effort from the boys, who prove that they are ready to rock your world once again! That's Right!!!"