Icewagon Flu
The Great American Something
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Icewagon Flu
The Great American Something
Jivin’ Jones Records, 2007
RiYL: Pogues, They Might Be Giants, Faith No More |
Surely there must be some “Best Unsigned Band” contest that Icewagon Flu, the They Might be Giants meets the Pogues band from Hoboken, N.J., can win. I mean come on, this is getting ridiculous.
While their live act and first few independent releases Trouble Has a Car and Take One should offer enough evidence that these gainfully employed musicians deserve a chance to say goodbye to their day jobs and give rock and roll a try, their newest, The Great American Something, closes the case.
Someone, Bloodshot Records, Yep Roc, hell, Mint Records, someone, do your job, get on the horn, and sign these guys.
The Great American Something, while not perfect, is such a leap forward for the Flu boys that it is almost stunning. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Trouble and really dug Take One, but if the latter is an example of what the Flu can do with a few rushed hours in the studio, than The Great American Something demonstrates the potential these guys have when given time, money, and free reign. The production, the songwriting, the mixing, the arranging--it sounds as if some label opened up the pocketbooks and threw the Flu a wad of cash.
Now Before I get into too much detail, let me go over some history. As some of you may remember, I wrote a glowing feature about two years ago after seeing an abbreviated live set during the giant D.C. frat party known as Shamrock Fest. Playing in front of hundreds of drunken wanna-be Paddys brought out the best in the ‘Flu, who gave it their all despite the frigid weather, stiff wind, and less than desirable stage location (in front of an office building in suburban Washington).
Also, I did happen to go to college with Kevin Adkins, the master of the tin whistle who shares vocals and songwriting with the charismatic George Smith. So perhaps I’m a bit biased, but so what? Biased or not, I know a good tune when I hear it, and I heard plenty during their Shamrock Fest set.
Anyway, two years later, after Take One and two E.P.s, the Flu have resurfaced with The Great American Something. Although one cannot certain call an album by an unsigned band a “statement” record, The Great American Something comes awfully close. The band is often pigeonholed into the “Irish Rock” category a’la Black ‘47, Flogging Molly, and the Finians, but its been obvious from the beginning that there’s more to these guys than a tin whistle and a few drinking songs.
I mean sure, Adkins does a mean Shane MacGowan, and their live set is full of traditional numbers like “Tell Me Ma” and “Whiskey in the Jar,” but George Smith’s strong and varied vocals bring enough of a Mike Patton/Faith No More vibe that you can’t just say these guys are an Irish band.
In fact, only on the self-penned “Wild Irish” do the Flu boys sound anything like their influences. Rather, The Great American Something is defined by the reggae-drenched “Little Red Devil,” the groovy “I’m the Best,” and the smoking “Drowning in Air.”
Take “I’m the Best,” for starters. This song appeared on 2005’s Take One as a straight-up rocker, but here, the Flu boys slow it down, add some harmonica and clever background vocals, and it’s a brand new tune. The song never takes off, and that’s the beauty--drummer Christopher Speich maintains a quiet, street corner groove, while bassist Timmy Murray and guitarist Martin Bristow stay in the background, yet they anchor the song.
From there, “Drowning in Air” picks things up a notch and is probably the best tune on the record. The song is driven by Smith’s and Adkins’ harmony vocals, alongside a driving drumbeat with a quick Irish-tinged guitar hook. I must say, I’d put this song up against anything recorded by anyone else this year, this has “sleeper hit” written all over it.
Now that’s not to say everything on The Great American Something is terrific; “Blue #9” is a little too catchy for its own good, and “Red Light” would do well at a college party, but sounds too much like a white band trying to do James Brown.
And lyrically, these guys aren’t exactly Nobel Prize winners, as evidenced on “Little Red Devil,” where Smith croons, most Sublimely, “Are you feeling me girl?/ Or just stealing my mind away,” repeatedly.
But hey, if you name me an album without a few downers, I’ll show you a band that does this sort of thing full time with a massive budget and, most likely, strong company support. The ‘Flu is doing all of this on their own, and its about time someone got wise and handed them a deal.
RODEO ROB | An expert on all things "alt," Rob spends his days covering the energy industry and his nights covering the DC-area bars. Raise yer glass especially high to this man, for he has contributed to this site constantly since its creation four years ago.