CAN YOU DIG IT? THE CHICKEN SLACKS FIND THEIR OWN FUNKY SOUND
The new 13-track album from Boston's hardest-working funk and soul band hits stores on January 27th
BOSTON, Mass. - December 16, 2008. A year in the making, Can You Dig It? is the culmination of the latest chapter of the now seven-year 'Slacks saga, closing a year that could be considered one of their best. With the 3rd anniversary of their Thursday night residency at The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, The Chicken Slacks also starred in a short "rockumentary" (available on their website), and will appear as the wedding band in the upcoming Hollywood film Bride Wars starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.
"We worked very hard to make this record sound like us - with all the energy, humor, and groove that our fans have come to appreciate," says Justin Berthiaume, the band's drummer and manager (and only remaining founding member). "We've gone through a lot of personnel changes over the years, but this current lineup has a chemistry and comraderie that really shines. That's unusual in a band, and you can hear this on the CD."
Can You Dig It? mixes original songs penned by the band with their own take on several obscure covers, some of which you may not think of as classic soul or funk. The CD opens with a surprisingly soulful Captain Beefheart tune "Too Much Time", and track 9 has singer Diamond D crooning Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long As I Can See The Light". Throughout the CD the band stays true to the classic themes of the soul and funk genre: love and heartbreak (Diamond D's "I'm In Love" and trumpeter and vocalist John Moriconi's "Only A Fool Gets To Heaven"), tongue-in-cheek sexual innuendo ("Going To The Shack" and Berthiaume's "I Wanna Take A Shower With You"), and social justice (Diamond D's "Tragedy") all get their due.
Even the CD artwork alludes to The Chicken Slacks long story. Inside, the 3-panel fold-out features a collage of 'Slacks fans boogying down against a backdrop silhouette of the Boston skyline. "It's a nod to our fans and to our city," explained Berthiaume. "We love them and we wanted them to feel a part of this CD."
Can You Dig It? is now on sale at The Chicken Slacks shows, and will be available in stores and online January 27.
1 comment:
Hey guys, Tommy here with a review you're all gonna love. The Chicken Slacks, "Can You Dig It" album is 1 that will grab you off of ur bar stool, &get you hoppin & groovin to the beat and just when u get there, someone will shout, play that funky music white boy. Believe me, I shouted. 'Too Much Time' is a laid back song and a good opener. Then, we hit the weekend with 'On A Saturday Night' to build you up into the groove to get you in the move.'Hook and Sling' wraps you in the minute Pops drum solo starts and it doesn't stop until you've cried Funk! [crying uncle] But in this case, you want more funk! Then we slow it down a little, to get up close and personal with that special someone with 'I'm in Love.' The smooth voice of the lyrical Diamond D makes you croon for more love. 'Going to the Shack' is a great song with the horn section, with Rude Boy and Johnny Blue horn killin' it. It's a good groove to get you through the time in between from you getting off of work, to you getting to that 'special' thing waiting for you at the shack. And the girl isn't bad looking either. Then we do a 180 with 'I Wanna Take A Shower With You', another smooth slow jam, which will hopefully lead you to taking a shower with that hot thang. Then we hit the 'Funk Way' which is bound to make you move in a very, very funky way. You don't know until you've listened to 'You Don't Know' which will pick up your spirits when they're down and lift you out of your bar booth and get you steppin until you find out what you don't know. 'Long As I Can See The Light' will get you through that long night. Diamond D, Slick Rick on the bass, and The Rev really bring out the vibe in this R&B song. Johnny Blue horn kills it with his slow hitting trumpet solo. Play that horn boy! 'Any Other Way' brings you back and gets you slow jamming and you really feel like you wouldn't want to stop. Would you have it any other way? 'Tragedy' with The Hammer wreckin the guitar will have you thinking it'll be a tragedy if you miss out on hearing this funkadelic song of funkiness. 'Only A Fool Gets To Heaven' brings a Sunday cool breeze into your musical heart. Don't feel bad if you don't feel it, only fools go to heaven. And we have the closer in 'She's Looking Good'& my, my, my, she is looking real good tah-day.
That's it for Tommy V. I love the record&I can't wait to listen to more and review on them. Keep the Funk Alive or your Soul will die.
Cheers, Peace and Chicken Grease
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