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Deep Banana Blackout has always been one of the most addictive and popular bands making music today. With the third CD in their arsenal, Feel the Peel, this longtime Home Grown band proves that they have absorbed the loss of founding member Jen Durkin and longtime trombonist Rob Volo. Understand, dear listener, that this is not the Durkin-led DBB that enchanted thousands of festival freaks or spawned the now-ubiquitous “Funk Mob” (a tightly knit group of longtime DBB fans and tapers – in the end, everyone is part of the Funk Mob), but much of the raw attitude, love, and unfathomable talent that Durkin brought to the group has manifested itself into one of the tightest, most hooked-up bands in the nation. The addition of Hope Clayburn (formerly of world-beat ensemble Baaba Seth) has certainly moved the band into a more musically focused direction. The band lacks an accomplished vocalist, but there’s nothing on this CD to hurt your ears (well, maybe a couple of things).
Feel the Peel is a far cry from the playful experimentation of DBB’s first album, Live in the Thousand Islands, and even farther from the unbridled energy of 1998’s double-live feast Rowdy Duty. Hidden among the lively, pulsating New Orleans funk of the opening track “Raspberry” are desperate, somewhat muddled lyrics that deal with decidedly un-lively subjects such as jail and gang violence. In fact, most of the subject matter on Feel the Peel is a bit weightier than one might expect from such a fun-loving group of musicians. DBB has the best of both worlds. They can say something serious and still have a load of fun. This is clearly evidenced in track two, “The Hassle." Once again, the band’s smooth funk glosses over a touchy subject. This time they confront their landlord, and I must admit that I would not want to be on the receiving end of such a tirade! “This ain’t livin’/Don’t you care?” they plead. DBB’s tell-it-like-it-is style serves to lift the spirit and get you up and grooving. In “Big Thing,” guitarist Fuzz tackles more of the anger that the band feels toward violence, prejudice, and self-destructive behavior. “Big Thing”’s silky groove, complete with synthesizers straight out of a Dr. Dre album, is a wonderful palette for the lyrics, and you can feel the emotion of the band more on this tune than any other. “Much more sound comes from this music/Than from dropping any bombs.” Now THAT I can feel.
Still, “Big Thing” and other tunes that DBB performed while Jen was still in the band, like “La Familia” and “Everybody,” lack their signature sound. There’s no way to revisit the style that Jen gave these songs. The band tweaked the songs ever so slightly to put more of newcomer Hope Clayburn’s stamp on them, and sometimes she sounds like an unwelcome visitor. The band relatively chugs through “Universal Song” and “La Familia,” tunes that really open up in the concert setting and had their aural flames fanned by Durkin for months. “Strong” and “Listen to Youself” are wonderful songs that would be classics with a great singer. But there’s no ammunition for DBB doubters here; overall, the band sounds a great as ever, especially during party-time numbers like the gospel-tinged “That’s What I’m Talking About,” the straight-up rockin’ Fuzz tune “Shabadeux,” and the joyous “Fire it Up,” which revisits the Crescent City feel of the first track and is sure to gain a huge following based on its namesake alone.
Feel the Peel is a mighty impressive album for a band that recently lost its spiritual foundation and most prolific songwriter. The musicianship of the band will soar to even greater heights as they play more shows and leave the inevitable Durkin comparisons behind them.
Bryan Rodgers
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