ATOMIC
The Magazine Articles Reviews The Bar ATOMIC Girls Gallery Venues Bands Retro Radio Forums Shopping
   


eBay


History Channel.com

Big-T & the Bada-Bings

 
 

Big Rude Jake
Big Rude Jake

The first track on the latest release from the Toronto-based swingpunk combo Big Rude Jake sounds like a New Orleans funeral march—upbeat yet bittersweet, with Jake's whiskey-tinged voice crooning over blasting brass. It sets the pace for the rest of the album, a moody romp through several genres of music, from the swingin' sounds of "Dinner with the Devil" to the Tom Waitsian "Speak Easy" to the thrash anthem "Let's Kill All The Rock Stars." Yet even with its mishmosh of musical stylings, the self-titled album demonstrates a remarkable consistency, with each song building on the last.

Traversing such a wide musical berth is a trademark of band leader and songwriter Jake Rude, who counts Raymond Chandler, Bertolt Brecht and Joe Strummer among his lyrical influences. And Mr. Rude has not been hindered in expressing his wry humor and singular sound with this latest project, the band's first release on its new label, Roadrunner Records. Evincing an old-school jazz influence coupled with an East Village edginess, the new CD maintains all the creative integrity of Big Rude Jake's first two records and includes re-recordings of two songs from earlier releases, "Blue Pariah" and "Queer for Cat."

Big Rude Jake has had a strong following in Canada since hitting the music scene almost five years ago, and swing-lovers here in the States should take note: Several songs on the new release are quite danceable, and the others are worth a listen simply for their lyrical magic. Mr. Rude also puts on a raucous, high-octane live show, and the band is currently traversing the continent on an 18-month tour to promote their latest effort. If you like a little bourbon in your bop, be sure to check them out.

- Joanne O'Day 



Year 1999 Reviews
Year 2000 Reviews
Year 2001 Reviews
Year 2002 Reviews
Year 2003 Reviews
Bellevue Cadillac—Prozac Nation
Big Kahuna—Hawaiian Swing
Big Rude Jake—Big Rude Jake
Big Tubba Mista—Knock One Back
Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra—
Swingin' The Century
Bim Bam Baby—Who Am I Gonna Love
Black Jacket Racket—Volume II
Blue Saracens—What's A Saracen?
The Camaros—Evil
Casey MacGill & The Spirits of Rhythm—Jump
The Delegates—Delegatin'
George Gee & His Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra—Swingin' Live
Got Swing?—Volume I
The Music of Harry Warren—
Swing! Here and Now
House of Blues Swings!
Indigo Swing—Red Light
Jet Set Six—Livin' It Up
Lisa Stansfield—Swing: The Movie
Mob Hits—Volume I
Mora's Modern Rhythmists—
Mr. Rhythmist Goes To Town
Ray Gelato Giants—The Men From Uncle
Rockabilly Hall of Fame—
VolumesI & II
Royal Crown Revue—Walk on Fire
The Yalloppin' Hounds—
Ghetto Swing Extreme
  Retro Film Reviews
Swing!: The Movie
  Retro Reading Reviews
The Swing Book—Degen Pener
Musichound's Swing!; The Essential Music Guide
   

 

 

 


© 1999-2009 ATOMIC Magazine, Inc.
ATOMIC Magazine Inc., 917 Orchid Drive , Lewisville, TX 75067
info@atomicmag.com
All site content, including images and text, is copyright © 1999-2013 ATOMIC Magazine, Inc. & www.RetroRadar.com
This material may not be reproduced, borrowed, or used for any purpose except by written permission of the copyright holder. Terms and Conditions of use.