Review: Ride the Boogie - s/t

Label: Longhair Illuminati

Released: June 17, 2008

Ride the Boogie's self-titled debut is a dark, trippy album. It dabbles in stoner elements, but often avoids that genre's heaviness, giving the music a core, but also the freedom to move around that core and not get stuck in the usual ruts.

From the Baroque pop psych of the opening track, it's clear that Ride the Boogie have a few unexpected tricks up their sleeve. Whether it's the butchered and re-assembled pop of "All Night" or the psychobilly leanings of "Mexico," Ride the Boogie don't settle on a single approach to conveying the central feel of the album. Even on the more stoner-oriented tracks, like their loose, dark bluesiness on "Big Ass Bass" or their nod to Fu Manchu's appreciation for Nugent over Sabbath on "Flat Out First Gear," they manage to be dynamic. The album finds a fitting ending with the dark cabaret of "Catch Phrase" followed by the ambling collision of indie rock and Americana on "Skipped Through a Towne."

The album is enriched by a live sound that furthers its living, breathing experience. That life is really what gets to the point of the album's strength. Ride the Boogie approached the music without any fear of missing expectations. It's alive with the life that the band gave it freely, under no duress to impress. It isn't always on, but even when it misses, it still feels good.

Ratings
Satriani: 5/10
Zappa: 6/10
Dylan: 6/10
Aretha: 7/10
Overall: 6/10

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