BARBARA CUE
''RHYTHM OIL''
OCTOBER 12 2004
46:37
1. Explode/6:09
2. Cloven Hoof/4:07
3. Coach/3:19
4. Walls/3:48
5. I Get Lonely/6:01
6. Reasons/3:47
7. Everywhere/3:56
8. Talking to Myself/6:37
9. New Name/5:28
0. Do You Read Me/3:43
David Barbe /Noise, Producer, Snaps, Vocals, Whistle (Human)
Paul "Big Bird" Edwards /Bass, Guitar
Jon Mills /Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Jonathan Mills /Guitar (Bass)
Todd Nance /Drums, Vocals
John Neff /Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Vocals
William Tonks /Dobro, Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW
by Mark Deming Barbara Cue's second album, Rhythm Oil, is a record that unfortunately suffers from what is commonly known as "side project syndrome." The key members of Barbara Cue divide their time between this group and others which take up the bulk of their time and attention (as well as providing the bulk of their income) -- drummer Todd Nance usually keeps time with jam-meisters Widespread Panic, guitarist William Tonks plays with Six String Drag, and John Neff also picks pedal steel with the Star Room Boys. Consequently, Barbara Cue is a band comprised of great players who, however, don't have a whole lot in the way of top-shelf material to bring to the table; most side projects find the participants bringing in their B-list tunes while they save their gems for their "real" bands, and Rhythm Oil's Achilles' Heel is a decided lack of memorable songs. Barbara Cue play up a storm on much of this album (especially the loud and clanky "Do You Read Me," the menacing "Talking to Myself," and the Stones-influenced "Cloven Hoof"), but most of these cuts sound more like glorified riffs than songs, and consequently they get old pretty fast (the band doesn't even seem to use them as starting blocks for memorable jams most of the time, which one might expect from an act featuring a member of Widespread Panic). With the right music, this band's smart and slightly fractured roots rock could be a force to be reckoned with, but Rhythm Oil suggests this band needs to draft a man who has a way with tunes before they go into the studio for album number three.
BIOGRAPHY
by Erik Hage Barbara
Cue is not a person but a five-piece "super group" from Athens, GA, that came together in 1997, spurred by their mutual affection for NRBQ. The band combines country, blues, rock, and R&B sounds, and while the NRBQ influence is certainly evident, Barbara Cue avoids the trap of simply aping their heroes. The group boasts a talented roster of musicians that have played with such groups as 6 String Drag, Widespread Panic, Star Room Boys, and Drive-By Truckers.
In the beginning, the group played shows around Athens and did some remote recordings with producer/artist David Barbe (Sugar, Mercyland), working on the tapes at his Chase Park Transductions studios. However, the shows could only happen when all of the members were in town and not working with their other bands. Barbara Cue eventually decided to get serious about doing an album, and the result was Louisiana Truckstop, which featured originals by the group, collaborations between the group and other singer/songwriters, and a cover of NRBQ's "Little Floater". In 2004, the members of Barbara Cue found the time to return to Chase Park Transductions and record a second album, Rhythm Oil, which featured ten new songs from the members of the band and their friends.
''RHYTHM OIL''
OCTOBER 12 2004
46:37
1. Explode/6:09
2. Cloven Hoof/4:07
3. Coach/3:19
4. Walls/3:48
5. I Get Lonely/6:01
6. Reasons/3:47
7. Everywhere/3:56
8. Talking to Myself/6:37
9. New Name/5:28
0. Do You Read Me/3:43
David Barbe /Noise, Producer, Snaps, Vocals, Whistle (Human)
Paul "Big Bird" Edwards /Bass, Guitar
Jon Mills /Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Jonathan Mills /Guitar (Bass)
Todd Nance /Drums, Vocals
John Neff /Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Vocals
William Tonks /Dobro, Guitar, Vocals
REVIEW
by Mark Deming Barbara Cue's second album, Rhythm Oil, is a record that unfortunately suffers from what is commonly known as "side project syndrome." The key members of Barbara Cue divide their time between this group and others which take up the bulk of their time and attention (as well as providing the bulk of their income) -- drummer Todd Nance usually keeps time with jam-meisters Widespread Panic, guitarist William Tonks plays with Six String Drag, and John Neff also picks pedal steel with the Star Room Boys. Consequently, Barbara Cue is a band comprised of great players who, however, don't have a whole lot in the way of top-shelf material to bring to the table; most side projects find the participants bringing in their B-list tunes while they save their gems for their "real" bands, and Rhythm Oil's Achilles' Heel is a decided lack of memorable songs. Barbara Cue play up a storm on much of this album (especially the loud and clanky "Do You Read Me," the menacing "Talking to Myself," and the Stones-influenced "Cloven Hoof"), but most of these cuts sound more like glorified riffs than songs, and consequently they get old pretty fast (the band doesn't even seem to use them as starting blocks for memorable jams most of the time, which one might expect from an act featuring a member of Widespread Panic). With the right music, this band's smart and slightly fractured roots rock could be a force to be reckoned with, but Rhythm Oil suggests this band needs to draft a man who has a way with tunes before they go into the studio for album number three.
BIOGRAPHY
by Erik Hage Barbara
Cue is not a person but a five-piece "super group" from Athens, GA, that came together in 1997, spurred by their mutual affection for NRBQ. The band combines country, blues, rock, and R&B sounds, and while the NRBQ influence is certainly evident, Barbara Cue avoids the trap of simply aping their heroes. The group boasts a talented roster of musicians that have played with such groups as 6 String Drag, Widespread Panic, Star Room Boys, and Drive-By Truckers.
In the beginning, the group played shows around Athens and did some remote recordings with producer/artist David Barbe (Sugar, Mercyland), working on the tapes at his Chase Park Transductions studios. However, the shows could only happen when all of the members were in town and not working with their other bands. Barbara Cue eventually decided to get serious about doing an album, and the result was Louisiana Truckstop, which featured originals by the group, collaborations between the group and other singer/songwriters, and a cover of NRBQ's "Little Floater". In 2004, the members of Barbara Cue found the time to return to Chase Park Transductions and record a second album, Rhythm Oil, which featured ten new songs from the members of the band and their friends.
