THE SAVOY TRUFFLE
"Roadhouse
Boogie" (Big Stone; 2004)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"Roadhouse Boogie" is simply more of the same from these Japanese purveyors of Southern-fried blues rock ... and that's a good thing. The Savoy Truffle know where their talents, and obviously their musical hearts, lie and they deliver the goods with solid, dependable style and energy.
"Roadhouse Boogie" begins with "Out in the Rain," which starts out with a ZZ Top-like riff and widens into the kind of rock song that Glenn Hughes or Joe Lynn Turner might record for a solo album. The ensuing tracks are heavier on the blues and lighter on the rock, although all deliver a firm kick in the pants, even when lead vocalist Monji Kadowaki is lamenting a love lost or a beer spilled.
Probably not a record for the hard rock / heavy metal fan but a great CD for those who like their blues a little heavier than most or for fans of blues guitar band in particular, "Roadhouse Boogie" is a rich, vibrant and surprising CD.
The Savoy Truffle: Monji Kadowaki - vocal, harmonica; Toshihiro Sumitomo - lead, slide and acoustic guitar; Yoshihiro Ogasahara - bass; Taizo Takafuji - drums; Taro Takagi - percussion.
For more information, check out http://www.live-indies.com/savoy.html.
"Take
to the Sky and Fly" (Big Stone; 2002)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Fans of Stevie Ray Vaughn and veterans like B.B. King will find themselves happily immersed in the music of The Savoy Truffle and this, their fourth CD, "Take to the Sky and Fly."
Accurately self-described as purveyors of Southern Rock, The Savoy Truffle offer anyone who likes that particular genre of music plenty to like here: twangy, fuzzy guitars; soulful, bluesy vocals; songs that are written and performed with lots of emotion. There are some blistering guitar leads to enjoy as well and a vocalist who sounds like a cross between Ronnie Van Zant and Ian Gillan.
As you do with bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers, you genuinely get a sense of the South when you listen to "Take to the Sky." Based on the talent of the bandmembers displayed here, that comes as no surprise. What might be a surprise, however, is that the band is from Japan!
The Savoy Truffle never rocks as hard as the edgier stuff of Lynyrd Skynyrd, but stays consistently at the livelier level of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Again, any fan of Southern Fried rock'n'roll will find plenty to enjoy on "Take to the Sky and Fly."
The Savoy Truffle: Monji Kadowaki - vocal, harmonica; Toshihiro Sumitomo - lead, slide and acoustic guitar; Yoshihiro Ogasahara - bass; Taizo Takafuji - drums and percussion; Taro Takagi - drums, congos and bongos. Guest musicians include Mari Kaneko on vocals and Yuko Shigeno on vocals, chorus and piano.
For more information, check out http://www.live-indies.com/savoy.html.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2005 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 16 Dec 2024 12:46:35 -0500.
