• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

April 2024

• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

Wolfe Gang: Read the Fine Print

Americana/Roots Rock

4.0/5.0

Independent/Self-promotion
Website
by Craig Hartranft,  03.14.2011

When asked what to type of music his namesake band Wolfe Gang plays, Michael Wolfe isn't always sure what to say. "Usually I just say 'Rock and roll, rhythm and blues,' and that's close," Wolfe states. Wolfe Gang's Read the Fine Print might be best described as a tasty slice of Americana, true roots rock that draws from many sources: rock and roll, blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, swing, funk, soul, folk, country, and zydeco. They will do both originals (Wolfe is both songwriter and singer) and covers from such eclectic sources like Bob Marley, Merle Haggard, and Blitzstein, Brecht, and Weill's Mack the Knife (introduced by Louis Armstrong but made famous by Bobby Darrin, and later Frank Sinatra).

To the originals, the title track has a strong rock, rhythm and blues feel, Get on Home to You passes for a simple melodic rock ballad with a slight country feel, and Another Sunday Morning and Everybody's Got One returns to the blues. Then, for something completely different, Wolfe Gang invokes some Celtic inspiration for the instrumental Irish Dream Song. For the covers, Mack the Knife, Haggard's Shade Tree Fix-It Man, and Marley's Three Little Birds they are deftly handled and delightful.

Overall, the music is varied, entertaining and sometimes unexpected, consider the arrangement of Mack the Knife. Wolfe's vocals and vocal arrangements take some getting used to, especially if you listen only to the first two tracks where he sounds over-extended. Nevertheless, the production is crisp and lush (handled by Wolfe and engineer Jeff Reid). Possibly, the single most defining feature of Read the Fine Print is the saxophone work of Jon Tucker: for my money, he steals the show.

While a fine album with great songs that express the roots of Wolfe and his Gang, I'm guessing this music is best heard live. Until you can hear Wolfe Gang in your area, I suggest you buy this album, especially if you dig fundamental American roots rock. Well recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Wolfe Gang's Read the Fine Print might be best described as tasty slice of Americana, true roots rock that draws from many sources: rock and roll, blues, rhythm and blues, funk, soul, folk, country, and much more.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]