THE DEL-LORDS
''ELVIS CLUB''
MAY 14 2013
52:16
1/When the Drugs Kick In
Scott Kempner/4:17
2/Princess
Scott Kempner/3:47
3/Chicks, Man!
Scott Kempner/3:47
4/Flying
Scott Kempner/5:15
5/All of My Life
Scott Kempner/5:20
6/Everyday
Dion DiMucci / Scott Kempner/3:23
7/Me and the Lord Blues
Scott Kempner/3:50
8/Letter (Unmailed)
Scott Kempner/4:04
9/Damaged
Scott Kempner/3:52
10/You Can Make a Mistake One Time
Eric Ambel / Scott Kempner/4:54
11/Silverlake
Scott Kempner/3:52
12/Southern Pacific
Neil Young/5:55
Steve Almaas /Bass
Eric Ambel /Guitar, Keyboards, Soloist, Vocal Harmony, Vocals
Rob Arthur /Organ (Hammond), Piano
Keith Christopher /Bass
Michael Duclos /Bass, Vocal Harmony
Frank Funaro /Drums, Percussion, Vocal Harmony
Scott Kempner /Guitar, Soloist, Vocals
Jason Mercer /Bass
Nate Schweber /Harmonica
REVIEW
by Thom Jurek
Though the Del-Lords officially re-formed in 2009, Elvis Club marks their first recording in 23 years. Chief songwriter/guitarist Scott Kempner has released a trio of solo albums, and performed with Dion DiMucci and a slew of other artists, while lead guitarist Eric Roscoe Ambel has established himself as a formidable producer, engineer, and session player. This iteration of the band features these two and original drummer Frank Funaro, along with new bassist Michael DuClos. Kempner, who sings lead on most of these cuts, wrote nine of them and co-wrote "Every Day" with Dion and "Make a Mistake" with Ambel, who produced the set. The sound here picks up right where the band left off. This is late-'80s, early-'90s New York roots rock -- all the sessions were cut at one of two studios in Brooklyn. It's all guitars, popping snares, 2/4 or 4/4 time, basic basslines, and a stray piano or organ thrown in for good measure. While none of these tunes are particularly "serious," some of them are cleverly absurd, such as opener "When the Drugs Kick In," which has a tasty, ringing, twin guitar riff, and the dreadfully titled, skittering boogie of "Chicks, Man!" The version of "Every Day" here rocks harder than DiMucci's (from 2000's Deja Nu), but isn't as convincing as a love song. The quasi-rockabilly in "Damaged" sounds tired and clumsy, while the distorted blues in "You Can Make a Mistake One Time" is all affect -- as if they were trying to channel the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion but have no idea how. "Silverlake" is a true bright spot. Kempner's vocal is emotionally invested, and jangly Rickenbacker guitars play the hell out of a timeless hook. Neil Young's "Southern Pacific," the lone cover, closes the record on a strange note. The guitars and drums charge out of the gate on stun with more edge and urgency than the original version. But when Ambel's vocal tries to ape the songwriter's, the track undoes itself and feels like a dead cross between parody and tribute. The Del-Lords once embodied the spirit of the ragged, rootsy, New York rock & roll scene at the end of a magical era; but that culture has long since vanished into history, making most of these songs, no matter how well constructed or intentioned, feel like exercises in nostalgia rather than anything vital. Ultimately, Elvis Club was recorded for the die-hard faithful, who will likely find great deal of comfort here.
BIOGRAPHY
by Al Campbell
Formed in the early '80s by ex-Dictators guitarist Scott Kempner, the Del Lords combined elements of '60s garage rock with country, blues, and folk influences to become one of the initial progenitors of roots rock. Kempner recruited former Joan Jett guitarist Eric "Roscoe" Ambel, bassist Manny Caiati, and drummer Frank Funaro, and the Del Lords released their first disc, Frontier Days, on Enigma/EMI in 1984. The album was noted for its guts, street smarts, and twangy guitars, a balanced blend of Springsteen meets Johnny Thunders. Their follow-up Enigma/EMI release, Johnny Comes Marching Home, found Pat Benatar producer Neil Geraldo at the helm. While the band had become tighter, Geraldo applied a poppy gloss that seemingly toned down the grittier aspects of their debut. All the right elements fell into place by the time their album Based On a True Story was released in 1988, with Geraldo commendably pulling back his slicker production technique, allowing the louder aspects of the band to break through. The album is also notable for the support of guest vocalists Pat Benatar, Syd Straw, Kim Shattuck, and Mojo Nixon.
The raucous EP Howlin' at the Halloween Moon captured the band in its live element, performing five tracks from the first three albums along with spirited covers of the Flamin' Groovies' "Jumpin' in the Night" and Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie." In 1990, the Del Lords recorded their final album, Lovers Who Wander, and although some of the rough edges were smoothed out, the graceful emotional conviction made their swan song just as appealing as any of their previous studio releases. Eric "Roscoe" Ambel officially quit the Del Lords in 1991, as he had already released a solo album, Roscoe's Gang. Eight years later, the Restless label finally got around to releasing Get Tough: The Best of the Del-Lords. The band reunited in late 2012 and released their first album of new material in 22 years, Elvis Club, in May of 2013 on MRI.
DoWnLoAd
''ELVIS CLUB''
MAY 14 2013
52:16
1/When the Drugs Kick In
Scott Kempner/4:17
2/Princess
Scott Kempner/3:47
3/Chicks, Man!
Scott Kempner/3:47
4/Flying
Scott Kempner/5:15
5/All of My Life
Scott Kempner/5:20
6/Everyday
Dion DiMucci / Scott Kempner/3:23
7/Me and the Lord Blues
Scott Kempner/3:50
8/Letter (Unmailed)
Scott Kempner/4:04
9/Damaged
Scott Kempner/3:52
10/You Can Make a Mistake One Time
Eric Ambel / Scott Kempner/4:54
11/Silverlake
Scott Kempner/3:52
12/Southern Pacific
Neil Young/5:55
Steve Almaas /Bass
Eric Ambel /Guitar, Keyboards, Soloist, Vocal Harmony, Vocals
Rob Arthur /Organ (Hammond), Piano
Keith Christopher /Bass
Michael Duclos /Bass, Vocal Harmony
Frank Funaro /Drums, Percussion, Vocal Harmony
Scott Kempner /Guitar, Soloist, Vocals
Jason Mercer /Bass
Nate Schweber /Harmonica
REVIEW
by Thom Jurek
Though the Del-Lords officially re-formed in 2009, Elvis Club marks their first recording in 23 years. Chief songwriter/guitarist Scott Kempner has released a trio of solo albums, and performed with Dion DiMucci and a slew of other artists, while lead guitarist Eric Roscoe Ambel has established himself as a formidable producer, engineer, and session player. This iteration of the band features these two and original drummer Frank Funaro, along with new bassist Michael DuClos. Kempner, who sings lead on most of these cuts, wrote nine of them and co-wrote "Every Day" with Dion and "Make a Mistake" with Ambel, who produced the set. The sound here picks up right where the band left off. This is late-'80s, early-'90s New York roots rock -- all the sessions were cut at one of two studios in Brooklyn. It's all guitars, popping snares, 2/4 or 4/4 time, basic basslines, and a stray piano or organ thrown in for good measure. While none of these tunes are particularly "serious," some of them are cleverly absurd, such as opener "When the Drugs Kick In," which has a tasty, ringing, twin guitar riff, and the dreadfully titled, skittering boogie of "Chicks, Man!" The version of "Every Day" here rocks harder than DiMucci's (from 2000's Deja Nu), but isn't as convincing as a love song. The quasi-rockabilly in "Damaged" sounds tired and clumsy, while the distorted blues in "You Can Make a Mistake One Time" is all affect -- as if they were trying to channel the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion but have no idea how. "Silverlake" is a true bright spot. Kempner's vocal is emotionally invested, and jangly Rickenbacker guitars play the hell out of a timeless hook. Neil Young's "Southern Pacific," the lone cover, closes the record on a strange note. The guitars and drums charge out of the gate on stun with more edge and urgency than the original version. But when Ambel's vocal tries to ape the songwriter's, the track undoes itself and feels like a dead cross between parody and tribute. The Del-Lords once embodied the spirit of the ragged, rootsy, New York rock & roll scene at the end of a magical era; but that culture has long since vanished into history, making most of these songs, no matter how well constructed or intentioned, feel like exercises in nostalgia rather than anything vital. Ultimately, Elvis Club was recorded for the die-hard faithful, who will likely find great deal of comfort here.
BIOGRAPHY
by Al Campbell
Formed in the early '80s by ex-Dictators guitarist Scott Kempner, the Del Lords combined elements of '60s garage rock with country, blues, and folk influences to become one of the initial progenitors of roots rock. Kempner recruited former Joan Jett guitarist Eric "Roscoe" Ambel, bassist Manny Caiati, and drummer Frank Funaro, and the Del Lords released their first disc, Frontier Days, on Enigma/EMI in 1984. The album was noted for its guts, street smarts, and twangy guitars, a balanced blend of Springsteen meets Johnny Thunders. Their follow-up Enigma/EMI release, Johnny Comes Marching Home, found Pat Benatar producer Neil Geraldo at the helm. While the band had become tighter, Geraldo applied a poppy gloss that seemingly toned down the grittier aspects of their debut. All the right elements fell into place by the time their album Based On a True Story was released in 1988, with Geraldo commendably pulling back his slicker production technique, allowing the louder aspects of the band to break through. The album is also notable for the support of guest vocalists Pat Benatar, Syd Straw, Kim Shattuck, and Mojo Nixon.
The raucous EP Howlin' at the Halloween Moon captured the band in its live element, performing five tracks from the first three albums along with spirited covers of the Flamin' Groovies' "Jumpin' in the Night" and Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie." In 1990, the Del Lords recorded their final album, Lovers Who Wander, and although some of the rough edges were smoothed out, the graceful emotional conviction made their swan song just as appealing as any of their previous studio releases. Eric "Roscoe" Ambel officially quit the Del Lords in 1991, as he had already released a solo album, Roscoe's Gang. Eight years later, the Restless label finally got around to releasing Get Tough: The Best of the Del-Lords. The band reunited in late 2012 and released their first album of new material in 22 years, Elvis Club, in May of 2013 on MRI.
DoWnLoAd
