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