BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS ‘
Crimes of Passion’ (Sanctuary WENCD217)(2004)
Amazingly the band's eighth album and bar a couple of mentions in
music magazines a band I know little about. Fronted by vocalist Todd
Park Mohr, who sounds uncannily like a cross between Ry Cooder, Mark
Knopfler and Jimi Hendrix, the band play modern blues rock with a
little bit of soul.
Opener `Dirty Juice' has modern loops coupled with a dirty blues
riff from the house of ZZ Top. Mohr's vocals are a delight as they
suit the music ideally as too often in blues rock based bands you've
got a great band but average vocalist.
Straight after this your are into the mellow `Beauty Queen' which is a total change in tempo and a
barbed attack on the world of models. The track also features some
neat guitar picking and steel drums! The dirty blues riffs are back
on `Love Transmission' and `Conquistador', the latter the heaviest
track on here. For the mellower tunes try the trippy `Imaginary
Ships' or `ICU' which is a bit too soul for my personal tastes.
Finally `Peacemakers Blues closes the album with a nod to Bob Dylan
in sound, fitting end to a very enjoyable album.
A blues rock Dire Straits anyone? The US loves them, about time the
rest of Europe and the world caught up!
DVD-A review
Label website
****
Review by Jason Ritchie
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