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MP3 Chicken Shack Project - US
8 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Acoustic, ROCK: Jam-band
Details:
Originally formed in 2006, the Chicken Shack Project releases its 2007 debut CD entitled "US", an eight track journey that takes you through the many workings and talents of the band. The band''s name is taken from a popular local "live house" aptly named "The Chicken Shack" located in Fussa City, a suburb of northwest Tokyo, Japan. Even though it''s members are mostly local musicians that play in and around the Fussa City area, this doesn''t mean that they lack a sense of world-minded musicianship. With a healthy balance of tastefully done cover songs and energetic, jam-orientated originals, The Chicken Shack Project, or CSP as they like to call themselves, gives "US" a well rounded and thought provoking musical masterpiece...CSP style.
The album opens with a cover of "El Condor Pasa", originally recorded and made famous by Simon & Garfunkel. The version that CSP wants you to hear however has mixed flavors of reggae, salsa and even jazz, giving you a generous taste of the band''s talent and versatility. The song moves freely and flows nicely with its upbeat tempo and fresh chord structures, unlike Simon & Garfunkel''s version which tries to capture its Peruvian influence with mandolins and flutes in a meter that represents more of a country-esque march. CSP''s version starts with djembe, congas and other free acoustic instruments, a style that they feel is important to their music, especially during creation.
Next is "What''s Going On", a very original version of the popular Marvin Gaye tune. Although its tempo and chord structure would like to persuade you otherwise, the meaning of the song and the lyrics is not lost, even while we hear a very assertive Nozomu Takahashi (lead vocals) sing us the melodies in Japanese. We also get an introduction to the band''s drummer, Toru Hoshino, locking up with bassist Chris Caden, forming a duo that drives this tune all the way to the end, old-school rock style. Almost analagous to the way that Japanese people view their social environment, CSP chose this song because of its message, a sort of wake-up calling for everyone to assess the way we relate to one another and to become more aware of our friends, family and environment.
Track three is our first taste of original CSP with "Little Bit Cold" written by Takahashi about a certain time of year, usually in June when walking down by the Tama River which runs from the mountains all the way through the vast city of Tokyo. Though June is considered summertime by anyone in Japan, sometimes a cold chill can come across the water; something that local people by the river know all too well. The song itself has a country feel to it, though it stays in a striaght ahead meter, reminiscent of something you''d hear from a forgetten Credence Clearwater Revival album.
From here the CD moves into more deeper levels, both emotionally and musically with a cover of "Calling You", originally written by Jevetta Steele and made famous by the movie "Bagdad Cafe". Again, CSP delivers it''s own flavor, but does an excellent job to capture the essence and feeling of the original works. We also hear some wonderful guitar playing by Hisaaki Miyata and Yoshiki Murata, both sharing lead and rhythm work equally throughout the song, pulling and pushing our emotions ever so tastefully.
Still reeling from the previous track, we are quite suddenly swept away with the entrance of "Happy To Be Alive", originally written by Tommy Talton and the his group "Cowboy". The Chicken Shack Project stays true to form on this one and gives us a real tap-your-foot-to kind of song, not unlike the orginal tune recorded in 1976. Helping Takahashi on lead vocals, we''re introduced to Takeshi Aoyagi, a local solo artist himself. The additional vocalist adds a welcome extra dimension, making this song, set in the 1950''s, an enjoyable story to listen to.
John II, perhaps the most intersting and creative original track on the album comes next, keeping our energy up and hands clapping. The story of the song is that it originally started out as a jam, which took the likings of perhaps a Led Zeppelin song. After a short time the jam was labeled John II, for the late drummer John Bonham of Led Zeppelin. Things developed from there, lyrics were written and the song evolved into something else entirely, but the named stayed. Live audiences love this tune, mostly because of its jam-oriented sound and high energy tempo. The Chicken Shack Project gives us a sense that we''re already there, at a live show, listening to their performance. Many people contributed countless hours on this song, and you can tell it''s worth another listen right off the bat.
CSP moves us back into the acoustic forum with "Us", a song written not only about all of the people that played and contributed to this album, but also friends and supporters... or the Chicken Shack community, if you will. It''s a tribute to them, celebrating life itself and the wonderful way that people of all ages and backgrounds can connect to one another.
Finally, the CD rounds out with yet another version of "Happy To Be Alive", played with an unmistakably Jimmy Hendrix sound and feel. You can even hear the "Wind Cry Mary" in the rhythm.
Recorded and mixed by Yoshiki Murata, Nobu Yamaguchi and Nozomu Takahashi at Sound Sonido, Booster Records, The Chicken Shack, Studio Rock and RYCE Music Lab, Fussa, Tokyo, Japan. Engineered by Yoshiki Murata.
Copyright Fussa Rhythm 2007.
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