Artist: Brian Setzer Orchestra
Album: Songs From Lonely Ave
Worth Buying: The whole album.
You might be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Brian Setzer Orchestra, Stray Cats, Swing Music, Rockabilly, Rock'n'Roll, Noir music and noir films, great guitar playing and listening to a music artists stretch out further from what they have done before.
Tell Me More: At first listen, it might seem as if it's the same old from the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Of course, I always say that this is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as the songs are good. And good the songs are on this latest outing from the BSO, but this is not the same old. First of all, this is the first BSO album where Brian Setzer has written all the songs himself. There are no covers of classic swing tunes mixed in with the original numbers. This is probably due to the fact that Songs From Lonely Ave is a concept album. It is described as the soundtrack for a lost noir film of the same name. But to my ears, what this really feels like is the soundtrack to a Broadway musical that is yet to be. Crafting a stage play around a set of songs is common these days, so I can certainly hear how this album could be expanded into a full stage production. In fact, the appearance of guest vocalists on songs like "Gimmie Some Rhythm Daddy" and "King of The Whole Damn World" only adds to the illusion that we are listening to a soundtrack.
But in the end this is all speculation. In his last album without the orchestra (entitled "13") Brian Setzer stretched well beyond his rockabilly roots, and in SFLA he stretches with some of the most complex arrangements that the BSO has ever performed. This is an album that requires repeated listening. And repeated listening's I have given it (enjoying it more with each one). And I have to say that I am ready for the stage show now.
What about the packaging? The CD comes packaged in a nice 3 way fold out digipak with a very nice glossy lyrics booklet that includes photos
Get Songs from Lonely Ave on CD
On Vinyl
Crazy Deluxe Limited Edition
$8.99 mp3 version
TJR 12/09/09
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