22 Dec 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

The Flaming Mudcats - Album Review: Cut Loose

09 Nov 2018 // A review by jacquiew

The Flaming Mudcats' Cut Loose celebrates the band's tenth anniversary in fine style. This is a solid, rocking blues album from a well-established and well-loved kiwi act. The album's 12 tracks showcase the vocal and songwriting talents of Craig Bracken with the material tightly and cleanly delivered by the band's four core members joined by guest artists.

Songs canvas familiar topics such as unrequited love and women misplacing their affections, while also giving the nod to hardworking regular people trying to make a living to support their families and struggling to pay their bills.

The album's clean, crisp production serves the material well. I particularly enjoyed Craig Bracken's harmonica playing and the lead guitar on tracks such as Moving to the Country and Show Me Some Love.

The album's cover tracks were tastefully executed. The band's cover of J West's Rooster Blues was really enjoyable, but it was their utterly gorgeous version of Sneakin Around by JM Robinson featuring Louis Bernstone on keyboard and Doug Bygrave on guitar that was the stand out track for me.

All in all, Cut Loose is a well-executed and fun album from a band that's made a well-deserved name for itself as a live act. The live vibe was evident throughout this album and I could well imagine the band bringing the house down with this material. A high calibre outing.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About The Flaming Mudcats

The Flaming Mudcats are a band that swings, shuffles and gets low-down in their devotion to the sounds of the Blues, R&B and Rock 'n’ Roll and anyone who argues that good blues is getting hard to find has never heard of this band... chances are you couldn't find a tighter good time band.

This four piece band swings, playing great grooves fused with burning harp and smoking guitar; this is no-frills party music.

A firm favourite in Auckland’s Blues scene, this band is well versed on what it takes to please a crowd exhibiting levels of professionalism and musicianship that makes it easy to become a dedicated fan.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for The Flaming Mudcats

Releases

Cut Loose
Year: 2018
Type: Album
Mistress
Year: 2014
Type: Album
Gave You What You Wanted
Year: 2011
Type: Album

Other Reviews By jacquiew

Belladonna - Single Review: Calling Out Your Name
25 Mar 2020 // by jacquiew
Wellington-based singer-songwriter Belladonna’s second single Calling Out Your Name is a refreshing and surprisingly upbeat piece of work, especially given its topic of clinging on to the past. Belladonna has a gift for writing a catchy hook, and she employs that talent to great effect here.
Read More...
Jen Turner - Single Review: Singing With Whales
12 Mar 2020 // by jacquiew
Singing with Whales by Jen Turner is a real gem of a single. Reflective and introspective in the particular way that break up songs tend to be, it’s also seriously catchy.
Read More...
Ria Hall - Album Review: Manawa Wera
27 Feb 2020 // by jacquiew
Ria Hall’s new collection of songs Manawa Wera is everything anyone could want from a new release. Hall is without doubt one of Aotearoa’s finest female vocalists and her material is thought-provoking and moving without ever being strident or preachy.
Read More...
Gig Review: Jackie Bristow @ The Boathouse, Nelson - 14/02/2020
15 Feb 2020 // by jacquiew
There was a lot to love about Jackie Bristow’s performance at The Boathouse in Nelson. The Boathouse has got to be one of the most spectacular settings in New Zealand for a music venue.
Read More...
Levi Lights On Project - Single Review: Like A Tie
14 Nov 2019 // by jacquiew
Levi Lights On Project have a knack for writing material that captures the zeitgeist and their latest single is no exception. Moody, gritty and evocative, Like a Tie is the perfect song for a television or film soundtrack with a Walter Mitty-esque theme of an office worker or corporate executive who dreams of throwing off the shackles of the 9 to 5 and living a more colourful existence.
Read More...
Albi & The Wolves - Gig Review: Albi and the Wolves @ Room Twenty5, Nelson
26 Oct 2019 // by jacquiew
Auckland-based trio Albi and the Wolves have made a real impression on the festival scene both here and overseas, especially since their Best Folk Artist of the Year Tui Award win in 2018. Just days ago, the group were named in the line-up for WOMAD 2020, a well-deserved nod for the very hardworking and talented Chris Dent, Micheal Young, and Pascal Roggen.
Read More...
Gig Review: Tami Neilson @ Nelson Arts Festival - 21/10/2019
22 Oct 2019 // by jacquiew
Tami Neilson is outrageously excellent. Her voice is full, powerful, nuanced and rich.
Read More...
Gig Review: Hollie Smith @ The Playhouse, Nelson - 22/09/2019
23 Aug 2019 // by jacquiew
Hollie Smith has a lovely voice and is a highly-regarded singer known to many for her work with TrinityRoots and Fly My Pretties, and for her vocals on the Don McGlashan penned hit Bathe In The River. Smith has also had significant success in her solo career to date.
Read More...
View All Articles By jacquiew

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem