Rock N' Roll might be dead but it gets its legs back for approximately 40 minutes on the new Sweetheart Jim & the Brothers Grimm album. James Phillips, Nathan Wiley, Dale DesRoches & Tom DesRoches offer up 11 slices of almost classic rock tunes. One of the great things about this record is that it's like a house you've always lived in but have suddenly discovered secret rooms you didn't know were there. At times the spirit of The Stones, The Byrds, Them & Neil Young with Crazy Horse lingers but with a feel you will be familiar with if you're a fan of James' music.
And although this is definitely a band effort JP is the wizard behind the curtain. He wrote all the tunes & recorded, mixed & engineered the album at his Sunza Horse studio in Arlington, PEI. The album has a great raw, fresh & live feel that makes this & James' previous solo effort, 'Notes From the Underground,' real pleasures to listen to.
The boys have been playing together for a couple years & have chalked up some great shows . . . I remember a particularly magical, drunken & stoned night at the Dunk in Breadalbane at Hall Mills' famous spot. The band was on the outdoor stage with about 50-70 souls dancing & laughing (& drinking) to the music & no one wanted the night to end . . .
I got the opportunity to record the band a couple times at the end of 2010 at the Taproom in Summerside & the Alibi in Charlottetown for their CD release. This was the first time I used the IC Recorder to capture a live, loud Rock band & I got mixed results but, as always, the spirit is there even if you find your speakers distorting a little on the three tunes in this post.
We'll start with the band at S'side's newest hopping spot, The Taproom (in the basement of the Causeway Bay Linkletter Restaurant). 'Confessions' is a minor-sounding rocker that really reminds me of some of Neil Young & Crazy Horse's tunes & is probably my favourite track on the record.
Nathan Wiley is mostly known as one of PEI's premier singer-songwriters but did you know that he is also a great rhythm & lead electric guitarist? The DesRoches boys add some high harmonies on the bridge/chorus that really bring the tune home.
CONFESSIONS (SJBG-J. Phillips)
My mind is fading & I still don't know
I think I might be headed for home, this time
Did anybody leave the light on for me
I strain my eyes but I still can't see
I think I might be headed for home this time
I've seen a lion & I've seen a lamb
My next door neighbours still don't know who I am
Every night before I lay down to sleep I pray . . .
Ooooo . . . Seasons change and I stay the same
Ooooo . . . It's been a fine ride, now I'm satisfied
Many friends I've had love me true
And all the time I've wondered what if they knew
I could not stand the weather outside, no
Many times I craved to spill my guts
Then my conscience raved, you must be nuts
Then my conscience raved, you must be nuts
You could not stand the weather outside, no
I've seen a lion & I've seen a lamb
My next door neighbours still don't know who I am
Every night before I lay down to sleep I pray . . .
Ooooo . . . Seasons change and I stay the same
Ooooo . . . It's been a fine ride, now I'm satisfied
If they only understood, how it felt so good
Oooo . . . what seemed so right at the time
Oooo . . . could never be a crime
'Alright' is a straight-ahead rocker about a woman. Really, what else is a Rock N' Roll band supposed to write about? This is another one from the Taproom.
ALRIGHT (SJBG-J. PHILLPS)
She was the classic stranger
With just a hint of danger
She took you on for a ride
Well you tried to use her
But you could not refuse her now
Now she's clawed her way inside
Well it's alright!
Your mama's gonna rock you to sleep at night
And it's alright now! (x2)
With a poison herb
And a seductive word
She made a careless wreck of my mind
And with a subtle twist
She took you by the wrist
And now she drags you on behind
Well it's alright!
Your mama's gonna rock you to sleep at night
And it's alright now! (x2)
You underestimated the girl
You underestimated the girl
Now she's the only one in the world
She took the escalator
Got on the elevator
Now you're on your way back down . . .
Down . . . Down . . . Down . . . Down . . .
Well it's alright!
Your mama's gonna rock you to sleep at night
And it's alright now (x2)
'When Midnight Rolls Around' closes out our post & the album & is probably one of the best tunes James ever wrote. I think he got requests for it even before it made it to this album & you'll see why. This has a real classic Soul, R&B feel to it . . . you could hear Van Morrison singing this baby . . . hey, anybody got his email? This version is from The Alibi in Ctown & isn't the best-sounding recording, apologies. When James first brought this tune around I remember trying to play it on the fly . . . HA! The thing's got enough chord changes for 10 songs. (Nathan was stormed-in this night but the boys were fine as a three-piece).
WHEN MIDNIGHT ROLLS AROUND (SJBG-J. PHILLIPS)
You're gonna wish you had somebody
When midnight rolls around
You're gonna find your arms are empty
When midnight rolls around
All the couples dancin' stop to kiss when the clock strikes
And you've never felt so lonely, no you've never seen the likes
You're gonna wish you had somebody
When midnight rolls around
Well I thought I knew my baby, when I held her in my arms
She swore that she loved me, oh how I loved her charms
Don't it hurt when you find out you didn't really know a thing
There'll be tears in your swollen eyes when you hear those bells ring
You're gonna wish you had somebody
When midnight rolls around
Someone to kiss, someone to hold
Someone to kiss, someone to hold
Someone to love you when you come in from the cold
You're gonna wish you had somebody
When midnight rolls around
Well I cried out at the moon & I cursed the stars above
How was I ever so careless to let myself fall in love
And like a junkie with his needle I hurt myself again & again
And I promised to get better but I never promised when
You're gonna wish you had somebody
When midnight rolls around
You're gonna find your arms are empty
When midnight rolls around
All the couples dancin' stop to kiss when the clock strikes
And you've never felt so lonely, no you never seen the likes
You're gonna wish you had somebody
When midnight rolls around
Although these lo-fi recordings have their own charm they can't replace the sound of the album & I really recommend you go out & pick this baby up. It's available at CD Plus in Summerside & Back Alley Discs in Charlottetown. Go to the band's Myspace HERE to hear some tracks from it.And of course with the actual CD you get the great album artwork by Tammy Peters. The cover alone is almost worth the price. It reminds me of some seedy black market porno movie or something. The photo of the kids on their bikes was actually found by Nathan in his basement & no one seems to know who they might be. Anybody out there got any ideas?
Oh yeah, one final thing: The Brothers Grimm's first incarnation was with Mr. Richard DesRoches & his album of original material. Happy Richard?
Thanks to James, Tammy, Sharon & Aaron MacDougall for the images.
Coming up at the Low-Fi Lab: Punk & Metal from a December 2010 show at the Regent in Summerside & country blues tunes from yours truly. I'll try not to take 2 months to do the next post.
Keep supporting local music!!
Keep supporting local music!!
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