Comanchero rock right out on their third CD The Undeserved. This band creates its own hard rocking sound by blending elements of country and funk into their rootsie approach. They take a serious path to reach serious listeners, but they can also play the role of a fun bar band.
The guitars are thick and fulsome. The rhythm section serves up a steady thump in each number. Vocalists belt with gusto on each track. Comanchero is drummer Greg Moon, bass player Andrew Kramer, guitarist-harpist Sam Margolis, lead guitarist Bob Moon, and percussionist-vocalist Jim Levin. Greg Moon and Andrew Kramer are also multi-instrumentalists who bring banjo and mandolin. Sam Margolis and Greg Moon switch back and forth on lead vocal duties.
Their opening song “Jimmy Carter” is a humorous take on all those Habit For Humanity homes the former president builds for the less fortunate. At once country and funky, it’s just a blast to listen to, barreling forward with edgy country rock guitar and vocals peppered with grit, soul, and verve. The guitar phase here balances carefully in the styles of funk and country and rock.
“Any Day” uses funky guitar riffs, groove oriented bass, and soulful sax to support a chirpy vocal approach usually found in country. It’s uncanny how these guys can suddenly shift gears into country rhythms and make it sound cool. “One Foot In The Grave” is a shuffling two step with a fiddle melody winding its way around a bouncy beat.
The vocals on all of these tunes are infused with true country grit. There is total sincerity in the delivery, and it gives their music a country-southern rock authenticity, as if they have lived what their songs are all about.
“Fall In Line” features a really cool guitar line that makes the guitar sound like it’s singing to you. The chorus has that grabby harmony sound over a bumpy rhythm section that cries out for radio play. The beat is almost reggae and it actually works well in this country-funk outfit, as the strong musical personalities involved here can bend any genre to their wills.
Comanchero pull a 180 and go into the beer drinking country drawl “The Other Side Of Town,” a honky tonk number driven by a slow affable rhythm section. The vocals here are almost southern accented as they take their sweet time describing their serious interest in beverages. Laced with perky, pretty pedal steel and clarinet, this one will have you daydreaming about local watering holes. “Whiskey” pulls you into this band’s driving blues-rock side. Mean style harmonica honking blazes a path for the knobby bass playing of Andrew Kramer and the hefty chord work of guitarist Bob Moon. It’s like a good bar band discovered a potion to make them famous, real talent looming large from a group of guys who don’t take themselves too seriously.
“Cold And Lonely Night” is another shuffling two step driven piece of country niftiness. The contrast between the speedy rhythms and the easeful vocals and guitars, fiddle, and mandolin is striking. Clever melodies dart in and out over the groove and it’s a real hoedown inside the barn tonight. “Red,” driven by palpable, knobby bass lines, churns out a funky beat and funk guitar riffs. Yet, the vocal and lead guitar rest comfortable in a healthy country vein, another clever method this outfit uses to create their own music out of diverse roots influences.
Comanchero can be as earthy as a decent bar band. There is no pretension on “Reign Dance,” a hefty chunk of grinding guitar, throbbing bass, and hefty drum support a pensive singer. Rhythm guitar fills in a lot of the space and that gives the tune more meat and meaningfulness. But you can party to this music as well as listen to it cruising down the highway. “Hard To Breathe” is chockfull of heavy low end runs and slithering guitar lines. The humming rhythm guitar creates its own momentum of oomph while the lead singer belts with a smooth southern charm.
Their textured song “When You Look” builds into a mesmerizing sound with atmospheric lead guitar conjuring the old west and nimbly picked mandolin notes making you feel speedy. The vocalist coos over a haunting landscape and makes you feel the sense of forlorn hope as destiny spreads its wings and takes you on its own flight.
Comanchero invited several top notch players into their den to help record this disc: Wendell Simonson helped write “Whiskey” and Marty Lynch played bass on “Cold And Lonely Night.” Laurence Scudder played viola. Noel Coakley added pedal steel. Ross Mazer brought his saxophones and clarinet. Chris Doig played lead guitar on “When You Look.” Zachary Francis tinkled a Rhodes on a few tracks. Scott Levine played lead guitar on “Fall In Line.” Mike Mooney, Mac Stine, and Andrew Zdyb sang backing vocals on “Fall In Line.”
Title track “Undeserved” closes out the CD with its cherry oak solid rhythmic underpinnings and banjo flavored melody line. This Comanchero CD has an action-packed quality with all of its thick rhythms and momentous melodies and it leaves you feeling the kind of energy you feel after watching an exciting bar fight. Bravo!