POPA CHUBBY
Starting his career in the NYC punk scene as guitarist for none other than the crazily inventive and ever so slightly deranged movie special effects artist Screaming Mad George (parts 3 & 4 of the 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' franchise; 'Society'; 'Bride of Re-animator'; et al), New Yorker Popa Chubby (the alter ego of Ted Horowitz) has since become something of a prolific solo artist. Active on the blues scene since the 90s, Chubby has released a constant flow of albums for over two decades, and his latest offering is 'The Catfish'. With a pseudonym that's derivative of an erection idiom ("pop a chubby"), is this an album that gets the juices flowing?
While there's nothing verging on stylistically original on 'The Catfish', Chubby's blues foundations are just the beginning in his compositional m.o. Sure, the album's blues and blues rock at core, and even has straight blues tracks such as 'Cry Till It's a Dull Ache' and the wonderful instrumental 'Blues for Charlie' (the latter features some mightily impressive soloing). However, we're also treated to the funked-up, wah-infused playing and rhythms of 'Going Downtown' and 'Good Thing'; the down-tempo, laidback jazz-swing vibe of 'Wes is More'; the rawness of the heavier 'Motörhead Saved My Life'; and he even seems to channel Huey Morgan on the Fun Lovin Criminals' styled 'Slow Down Sugar' (featuring Chubby's daughter Tipitina Horowitz on muted trumpet).
So, diversity is key to both the success and enjoyment of 'The Catfish', so if your listening proclivities are expansive enough to include said styles then Chubby's latest is well worth checking out. There's nothing overtly mindblowing or erection-inducing on offer here, but the man's succeeded in crafting a solid album that has as many fun moments as it does pensive ones. And Chubby's soulfully inclined voice is full of character and resonance to carry each song. For me, though, it's his moments of deeply expressive, warm-toned fretboard widdlings where the album truly excels. And there are plenty of those. Great stuff, Chubby, great stuff.
While there's nothing verging on stylistically original on 'The Catfish', Chubby's blues foundations are just the beginning in his compositional m.o. Sure, the album's blues and blues rock at core, and even has straight blues tracks such as 'Cry Till It's a Dull Ache' and the wonderful instrumental 'Blues for Charlie' (the latter features some mightily impressive soloing). However, we're also treated to the funked-up, wah-infused playing and rhythms of 'Going Downtown' and 'Good Thing'; the down-tempo, laidback jazz-swing vibe of 'Wes is More'; the rawness of the heavier 'Motörhead Saved My Life'; and he even seems to channel Huey Morgan on the Fun Lovin Criminals' styled 'Slow Down Sugar' (featuring Chubby's daughter Tipitina Horowitz on muted trumpet).
So, diversity is key to both the success and enjoyment of 'The Catfish', so if your listening proclivities are expansive enough to include said styles then Chubby's latest is well worth checking out. There's nothing overtly mindblowing or erection-inducing on offer here, but the man's succeeded in crafting a solid album that has as many fun moments as it does pensive ones. And Chubby's soulfully inclined voice is full of character and resonance to carry each song. For me, though, it's his moments of deeply expressive, warm-toned fretboard widdlings where the album truly excels. And there are plenty of those. Great stuff, Chubby, great stuff.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
earMUSIC
Album
THE CATFISH
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
56:11
RELEASE DATE:
15th January 2017
TRACK LISTING
1) Going Downtown
2) Good Thing
3) Bye Bye Love
4) Cry Till It's a Dull Ache
5) Wes Is More
6) Motorhead Saved My Life
7) Blues for Charlie; 8) Dirty Diesel
9) Slow Down Sugar
10) Put a Ground Man to Shame
11) The Catfish
12) C'mon in My Kitchen
2) Good Thing
3) Bye Bye Love
4) Cry Till It's a Dull Ache
5) Wes Is More
6) Motorhead Saved My Life
7) Blues for Charlie; 8) Dirty Diesel
9) Slow Down Sugar
10) Put a Ground Man to Shame
11) The Catfish
12) C'mon in My Kitchen
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
USA
"There's nothing overtly mindblowing or erection-inducing on offer here, but the man's succeeded in crafting a solid album that has as many fun moments as it does pensive ones."
