27 Dec 2024
Kabanaz - Kabanaz - 'Something New, Something Old, Something Better' album review
22 Oct 2009 // A review by CEOMong
A bluesy, Electric 6, Head Automatica, Kings of Leon feel overall, in a truly Kiwi (and therefore better) way. Mostly gravelly, always widely ranging and engaging vox, married up with delicate, dependable and deliberate gax and beasty bluesy bass. Unobtrusive drums holding the whole thing together like sexy, sexy glue.
Beautifully produced and cleanly mastered (in Tennessee no less), this is an album chock-full of memorable tracks that only get better the more you listen; this album should be on everyone’s summer playlist, it’ll certainly be on mine.
Track 1 – Smooch Shop
Bluesy and doleful, a swingie lounge lizard shroom-induced ballad. Deliberate and distinct bass fingering, raw and toothy gax. Steady and solid. Sweet.
Track 2 – CD Queen
Stepping up now with more of a batshit crazy sexy tune, a crazy bootstomping social commentary that cracked me up more than once – epic! Play it loud.
Track 3 – It’s Over
Rocks on up with a melodic acoustic riff evoking imagery of lounging round a bonfire on the beach; slowly evolving into lights and music and a full-on beach party. Cool bendy gax fx. A melancholic and emotive singalong tune.
Track 4 – Joe’s Overture
Never mind the bollux – now we’re getting the party going. Beasty and electric punk for lack of a better label. A modern tale of longing and love. Love it.
Track 5 – James’ Overture
Meaty bass, tweaky short riffs. Uniquely Kiwi R&B style vox, mashed up with some sweaty gax.
Track 6 – Something Better
A bit of a rest from the fast-paced action featured earlier on. Another soulful tune, one that could very well be a slow dance in any ballroom (or school ball) around the world.
Track 7 – Slow
Sweet delicate gax fingering hooks you in, coupled really nicely with the wide-ranging vox. An aptly named track, slow and sway inducing. A true endless summer tune.
Track 8 – Pharos (Lighthouse)
Now we’re cooking – a real rock out track, experimental feel, short and fast. This’d get the mosh pit bouncing right from the first chord. Meaty rhythms to get the head banging and the air axe out. Sudden stop – where’s my drink gone? My favourite so far.
Track 9 – Move On (Can’t Believe You Lied)
Another mellow contemplative track, a sad and introspective tale of loss and pain. Nice ranges displayed by all members, a solid and grunty track at times, mournful and slow in others.
Track 10 – Hang On
Bluesy rapid gax fingering, spacey electric bendy fx, velvety smooth stuff. Really hard to put my finger on why this track rules, it just does!
Track 11 – Daisy Blade
Carrying on a similar theme from the previous track, another tale of self-destructive love.
Track 12 – Rob’s Overture
Instantly engaging, a nice red-hot bowl of power axe to the face, a beasty meathook rhythm to hang the gax and vox off of. My second favourite track of the album. A triumphant chuckle rounds off the album really nicely – but I want more, so I’m off to press play for the fifth time tonight.
Something New? Check.
Something Old? Check.
Something Better? Fuck yes. Stop reading my drivel and go get this album.
CEOMong
A bluesy, Electric 6, Head Automatica, Kings of Leon feel overall, in a truly Kiwi (and therefore better) way. Mostly gravelly, always widely ranging and engaging vox, married up with delicate, dependable and deliberate gax and beasty bluesy bass. Unobtrusive drums holding the whole thing together like sexy, sexy glue. Beautifully produced and cleanly mastered (in Tennessee no less), this is an album chock-full of memorable tracks that only get better the more you listen; this album should be on everyone’s summer playlist, it’ll certainly be on mine.
Track 1 – Smooch Shop
Bluesy and doleful, a swingie lounge lizard shroom-induced ballad. Deliberate and distinct bass fingering, raw and toothy gax. Steady and solid. Sweet.
Track 2 – CD Queen
Stepping up now with more of a batshit crazy sexy tune, a crazy bootstomping social commentary that cracked me up more than once – epic! Play it loud.
Track 3 – It’s Over
Rocks on up with a melodic acoustic riff evoking imagery of lounging round a bonfire on the beach; slowly evolving into lights and music and a full-on beach party. Cool bendy gax fx. A melancholic and emotive singalong tune.
Track 4 – Joe’s Overture
Never mind the bollux – now we’re getting the party going. Beasty and electric punk for lack of a better label. A modern tale of longing and love. Love it.
Track 5 – James’ Overture
Meaty bass, tweaky short riffs. Uniquely Kiwi R&B style vox, mashed up with some sweaty gax.
Track 6 – Something Better
A bit of a rest from the fast-paced action featured earlier on. Another soulful tune, one that could very well be a slow dance in any ballroom (or school ball) around the world.
Track 7 – Slow
Sweet delicate gax fingering hooks you in, coupled really nicely with the wide-ranging vox. An aptly named track, slow and sway inducing. A true endless summer tune.
Track 8 – Pharos (Lighthouse)
Now we’re cooking – a real rock out track, experimental feel, short and fast. This’d get the mosh pit bouncing right from the first chord. Meaty rhythms to get the head banging and the air axe out. Sudden stop – where’s my drink gone? My favourite so far.
Track 9 – Move On (Can’t Believe You Lied)
Another mellow contemplative track, a sad and introspective tale of loss and pain. Nice ranges displayed by all members, a solid and grunty track at times, mournful and slow in others.
Track 10 – Hang On
Bluesy rapid gax fingering, spacey electric bendy fx, velvety smooth stuff. Really hard to put my finger on why this track rules, it just does!
Track 11 – Daisy Blade
Carrying on a similar theme from the previous track, another tale of self-destructive love.
Track 12 – Rob’s Overture
Instantly engaging, a nice red-hot bowl of power axe to the face, a beasty meathook rhythm to hang the gax and vox off of. My second favourite track of the album. A triumphant chuckle rounds off the album really nicely – but I want more, so I’m off to press play for the fifth time tonight.
Something New? Check.
Something Old? Check.
Something Better? Fuck yes. Stop reading my drivel and go get this album.
CEOMong
About Kabanaz
Combining their love of all things rock, from the Beatles to the White Stripes, Kabanaz forged a classic feel good pop-rock sound laden with summery vocals hooks and charging guitar riffs.
After hitting the studio in late 2007, the bands’ debut album ‘Something New, Something Old, Something Better made its way to the Rock n Roll Mecca of Memphis, Tennessee, where it was mastered at Blackwood Studios.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Kabanaz
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