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CHAD SMITH'S BOMBASTIC MEATBATS
www.bombasticmeatbats.com
An album as batty as the band name, cover and title would lead you to believe, here we have Chad Smith's debut release with new instrumental venture, 'Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats'. The legendary drummer is somewhat ubiquitous within the scene at the moment with this release swiftly following Chickenfoot's eponymously titled debut album, and preceding the widely anticipated new studio offering from Red Hot Chili Peppers next year. So what of the Bombastic Meatbats? Chad is joined by guitarist Jeff Kollman, keyboardist Ed Roth and bassist Kevin Chown and, collectively, their seventies-style R&B and classic rock influences are fused together by some of the funkiest instrumental sounds and rhythms I've heard in a long time. In fact, the music oozes sonically infectious funk for the majority of its playing time, give or take the occasionally mellower down-tempo piece such as 'Into the Floyd' (surely a nod towards Gilmour & co in its title and style). Although each of the tracks has its own discernible motifs and themes, 'Meet the Meatbats' generally feels like one long jam between four musicians who are evidently bound by an audible musical chemistry. Interestingly, a glance at the accompanying press sheet consolidates this observation and jam-essence of the music, as the band was "forged as an outgrowth of Jeff, Ed and Chad's recordings and touring with rock legend, Glenn Hughes", where they would warm up at rehearsals by jamming together, leading Chad to apparently declare "Hey! We should record something like this!". With the material apparently written over just a few days, this is pure organic improvisational unpretentious jamming at its best and, overall, eschews the Muzak trappings that befall particular other instrumental albums, for 'Meet the Meatbats' demands your listening attention with genuine depth to each track and skilled musicianship throughout. As an instrumental work, the album might prove a tad long for the casual listener (it still clocks in at 56 minutes without the 10 minute bonus track) but there is enough variety and aurally engaging funk etc in the music to warrant repeated listens. Does the album have wide appeal? I guess time will tell, although with Chad Smith's name attached to the project (and placed prominently on the cover), they perhaps already have a ready-made audience.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
earMUSIC
Album
MEET THE MEATBATS
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Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
66:18
RELEASE DATE:
12th Oct 2009
TRACK LISTING
1) Need Strange
2) The Battle for Ventura Blvd.
3) Oh! I Spilled My Beer
4) Tops Off
5) Death Match
6) Night Sweats
7) Pig Feet
8) Lola
9) Bread Balls
10) Into the Floyd
11) Status Spectrum (Bonus Track)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
USA
"Although each of the tracks has its own discernible motifs and themes, 'Meet the Meatbats' generally feels like one long jam between four musicians who are evidently bound by an audible musical chemistry."