Jealous Haters Since 1998!
Home | News | Reviews | Day In Rock | Photos | RockNewsWire | antiTainment Wire | Feeds

Robert Fairweather & the Luv Machine - Big Maracas


After reviewing the Luv Machine's Blizzard in Chicago in an earlier review for this column, I was expecting Big Maracas (released in June of this year, or 2005 for those of you who have been living under a gigantic rock) to be more of the same. Now, I truly do not mean any insult by that, and if you don't believe me, I'll prove it. Think of it like this; why would a retro blues rock band, who have mastered one of the more technical schools of rock and built a decent career out of it, with several releases and years of playing shows together, and all sorts of accolades usually befitting a much larger band, need to change anything at all? It's the whole principle of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," and really, there wasn't much broke on Blizzard if anything at all. I guess that's why Big Maracas surprised me so much; tiny traces of Latin have been added to the mix along with oodles of lush, psychedelic vibes. In fact, the band has (and this is apparent to me after only about four songs or so) added so much extra depth to their mellow rock that it almost sounds like a different band. The songs have taken on a deeper complexity, often sounding a little bit more rocking or smoking than the predecessors of Blizzard. To add even more change, keyboards seem to pop up a lot on this CD, allowing for more variety in the sonics department. It all makes for a swell time, as well as a CD that excludes new levels of jamming cool.

The title track isn't wasted for a second, and as such, "Big Maracas" kicks things off right away. The song sways in on a cool Caribbean breeze of textured, clean, electric guitars, and clangy drums. The song slowly builds into a rocking climax, and I can say that this song already eclipses some of the best material on Blizzard. "Goin' for Tha Rush" has a spacey, tripped out vibe that almost harkens to Pink Floyd rather vaguely at times. An odd song out of left-field, and a great swerve from the band as well. "Show Me Tha Money" has a killer keyboard tone backing a jamming bass line and some good old fashioned funk. "Into the Mist" is a meandering folk ballad that is one of the album's best highlights; I can already picture three or four movies playing this song at that pivotal "protagonist driving a cool car into the sunset" scene. The groove heaven that is "James Brown" is so freaking retro, yet fresh at the same time, you could party to it for a generation or two. "Ain't Stopping My Train" is a fantastic ballad of rustic guitar picking, and the polar opposite that is "Don't Get Hustled" follows it up with blistering guitar licks and random insanity. I'd probably pick "Hustled" is the best track here, so fun is it to listen to the awesome guitar pieces. "The Emasculator" is a quiet ballad about witchy women, and the gospel-themed keyboards of "Where Did The Time Go?" mesh perfectly with the blazing Southern guitar splendor. "Go to Mississippi" is a throwback worthy of Blizzard meanwhile; the tune has a swampy boogie to it the band explored on a few of its earlier tracks. I can say without a doubt that final track "This is What You Get" is the heaviest Luv Machine track I've heard, the band entering stoner rock bliss with a low groove and flat out rock 'n roll.

Wow...Big Maracas heralds big change. The amount of new directions present here is staggering, and it seems the Luv Machine has been upgraded many times over. Cool, confident, collected, and even a tad eclectic, Big Maracas is like that big Pinata at your 8th birthday party; no matter which angle you decided to whack it at, some kind of candy everyone likes is bound to spill out. The adage holds true here; give this puppy a whirl and most likely a song or two will please any fan of music. In closing, if you're looking for something fun try shaking these Maracas next. I'm willing to bet good money no one who does will feel hustled in the slightest.

Rating:


Links

Visit the official homepage

Click here for tour dates, mp3s, news, pictures, etc.

Click here for even more mp3s

tell a friend about this review

.


...end




.
.
News Reports
.
Day in Rock:
Chickenfoot The Movie- Alice In Chains 2010 Tour Plans- Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown Team Up For Tour- Bonnaroo- Green Day Revamp and more

Yesterday's Report: 11/19: Aerosmith Members Fear Tyler May Be Back On Drugs- Bon Jovi Back On Top- Live Daughtry Webcast Tonight- Metallica Add to 2010 World Tour Plans and more

 Subscribe To Day in Rock

Quicks: Ringo, McCartney Duet- Fall Out Boy on Hiatus- Slash N' Adler Jam- The Analyst Guitarist Injured In Fall- Oscars Snub Anvil- Interpol Eye 2010 Release and more

Day in Pop 11/20: Taylor Swift Vs Bar- John Mayer To Beat Bon Jovi- Oprah Show No More- Susan Boyle Sets Record- Morrissey Vs Fan- Alicia Keys- Jay-Z and more


Your Ad Here for Just $10
.
 
Reviews
.

Road Trip: Ireland

Rock Reads: Bruce Springsteen: The Light in Darkness

SwampDaWamp - Rock This Country

Keith Urban Live in Chicago Nov 2009

The Official Heavy Metal Book of Lists

Megadeth Live

Hot In The City: Age of Evil, Triple Double Band, blessthefall and The Word Alive

On The Record: New Tales to Tell---A Tribute to Love & Rockets- Wax Tailor

The Fall Of Troy - In The Unlikely Event

Rammstein - Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da

KISS Live in Chicago Nov 2009

Creedence Clearwater Revival - The Singles Collection

Kelly Clarkson Live October 2009

Pithy Reviews: Karen O and the Kids (Where the Wild Things Are Soundtrack), Lita Ford, Everclear, Beatallica, Livan, State Radio, and the Riverwinds

Death Row Rarities: Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

Bon Jovi - The Circle


.
.
.

Search for Tickets

Or Browse For Tickets

.
.
Today's News
.

Chickenfoot The Movie

Alice In Chains 2010 Tour Plans

Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown Team Up For Tour

Ringo, McCartney Duet- Fall Out Boy on Hiatus- Slash N' Adler Jam- The Analyst Guitarist Injured In Fall- Oscars Snub Anvil- Interpol Eye 2010 Release and more

Green Day Revamp 21 Guns With Idiot Musical Guests

Bonnaroo 2010

Bruce Kulick Taps Members Of KISS, The Knack, Motley Crue For New Album

Smile Empty Soul Announce Headlining Tour With Burn Halo (Ex-Eighteen Visions) & The Last Vegas

Metallica Member Quits- Slayer Blamed for Teen Slaying- High Schooler Threatens To Kill Rocker- Guns N' Roses Return- Ozzy Sitcom and more top stories from 2001

Nils Lofgren Discusses Springsteen Tour Finale

Crash Kings Hitting The Road With Rooney

The Devil Wears Prada Kick Off Napalm & Noise Tour

Warner Bros. Whip Up Some Deluxe Devo for the Holidays

Never Shout Never Acoustic Tour

Daryl Hall, John Oates and Cleveland

Cavo Winning Fans on Radio and on Tour with Daughtry

2009 Taco Bell Feed The Beat Program Winners Are Announce

Nebula Mini Tour

Wesley Willis DVD Set For Release

The Shambles Announce Free Release Party

Taylor Swift Vs Bar- John Mayer To Beat Bon Jovi- Oprah Show No More- Susan Boyle Sets Record- Morrissey Vs Fan and more

Alicia Keys Calls Fan To Digital Action

Idle Warship (Talib Kweli, Res & Graph Nobel) Offer Up Mixtape

Turkey, Football and Motown for Thanksgiving

Jay-Z Platinum State Of Mind

Two Brand New Black Sheep Projects Coming Soon

Eric Hutchinson EP Coming

Susan Boyle To Take Over Rockefeller Plaza

David Guetta Cleans Up For First U.S. Hit

Barry Harris Remixes Billie Myers

Charlie Alex March Set February Release

More News

Subscribe to Day in Rock Report by Email

.
 
Day in Rockers
. Sites that feature the Day in Rock

94WYSP PhillyKFLY Real Rock97.9 WCPR Biloxi107thebone.fmX92.5 FM Maui100.1 The EdgeRock 105.994.7 The End96.3 The Blaze104.9 The WolfKROQWTOS Pure Rock!trakkrz.com

.
 
anti Worthy Links
.
The Screen DoorLloyd Zeffler blogGary GonzoLonn FriendTalking MetalNightwatcher's House of RockCJ Chilvers: passionate music journalist and photographerDeja Voodoothecopycat.bizKeavin.comantiMusic Myspace

.
 
Merch
.

Posters and Rock T-Shirts!



 

Tell a Friend about this page - Contact Us - Privacy - antiMusic Email - Job Postings - Advertising

Copyright© 1998 - 2009 Iconoclast Entertainment Group All rights reserved. antiMusic works on a free link policy for reprinting of our original articles, click here for details. Please click here for legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to this site. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use.