STEVE RILEY AND THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS
Happytown
Rounder
· Eighth release by progressive Louisiana artist.
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys have long been on my list of musicians to watch. With any luck, Happytown will be their long-sought breakthrough album and help the Playboys overcome the stigma of being perennial up-and-coming artists.
On Happytown, Riley and his cohorts wander all over the musical map while remaining firmly rooted in the fertile soil of Louisiana Cajun culture. The songs recorded for this CD blend traditional Cajun music with rock, F rench pop and mainstream country music. Throw in a song based on a piece of 19th century slave poetry, add some drum loops and samples of archival field recordings, and you begin to get an idea just how interesting, far-reaching and unique this project is. This is a group that eschews convention and pushes the boundaries just about as far out as they can, with mostly fascinating results.
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