Album Review: T. Lee (of Babybrutha) - Babybrutha Knows

T.Lee-Bass,Guitar, Keys,Vocals,Drum loops
Danya Thompson-Drums
Keith King-Drums
Sav Izzi-Guitar
Mecca Modai-Vocals
Natalie Rose-Vocals
Vaan Lotus-Vocals

10 songs of Chicago inspired funk music.  Tim Lee (known as T Lee) is a Chicago born multi-instrumentalist who writes songs about real shit.  Tim first heard Howlin' Wolf at age 6 and was scared, but got over it after being exposed to the music of his siblings, and by the age of 12 got his first real guitar. 

Upon listening to the album you can't help but pick up on the influences.  It's not vintage, old school or slow jams.  It's an explosion of genres and influences.  Influences such as P-Funk, James Brown, Prince or Sly Stone.  Me personally?  I pick up some Lenny Kravitz on the album.

I mentioned that all the inspiration for the songs on the album come from real life.  We all know real life is full or ups and downs.  This album deals with both the highs and lows.  The roller coaster of life is alive and well on this album.  Tim has used his life time is Chicago to write some solid tunes, and throws in funk so it might feel like a happy song about topic hard to talk about, and that's what this album so good. 

"Wanted Man" is a stand out track on this album.  A song about how fast things can change for the good or bad at a blink of eye.  Live for the moment, don't worry about the future holds.  "You Good For Me" is a Rick James' inspired song about love.  As close to a love song without calling it a love song.  "I Wanna Get Up" is a slow burner, and probably the most personal song on the album.  Inspired by George Harrison and Tim's father's battle with cancer that he eventually lost.  Changing gears to "Walk Of Shame" summer is short in Chicago, people tend to let their freak flags fly (so I've been told).  The album closes with "Misguided Love" a fun song again about something real.  Probably not fun for the person going through it at the time, but good song writing material.

These guys kill it live!  Transferring their energy from the record to the stage.  They play pretty frequently, and have opened for the likes of Erykah Badu and Nina Sky.  Go check these guys out.  T Lee throws in some solo gigs too, so if you get a chance....  They "just want to make music and hopefully get a few people to bob their heads to it"

Now.....  GO WIGGLE!

-Mike Downing

ALBUM REVIEW - The 7th Sons - Hard Tails

 

Jerry Eady:  Guitar/Vocals

Steve Kost:  Drums

Mark Groble:  Bass

 

I've been listening to the 7th Sons since they were a 2 piece playing Black Keys and White Stripes covers, also conquering classics by the Doors, and other unexpected tunes.  The addition of a bass player has added a completely different element to their sound.  They describe themselves as "classic rock to punk, hard rock to rock n blues...  pulled out of array of freestyle jams".  These guys are NOT your typical "jam band" but there's influences (and all but 1 tune is over 5 minutes long).  

 

Their first album of original music came as a little surprise to me.  A little harder edge than I would have expected.  That being said full of Seventh Sons attitude, balls and clearly hard work. The songs on the album are all well written, and put together.  I mentioned the length but these guys know what they're doing and have the chops to have 6, 8 or 9 minute songs.  The opening track "Soul Soup" has a great beat, then the lyrics starts and the song transforms to another place!  That's the magic of the Seventh Sons.  They're a little like the old saying "if you don't like what you hear wait 5 minutes".  Sometimes the beginning won't sound like the middle or the end.

 

Another stand out track is oddly the shortest song on the album "Mind the Gap".  Brings feelings of sunshine, beers, and girls!  A good old rock n roll song.  Doesn't sound like the rest of the album.  It's a nice little pick me up.  This sound might be something the band could explore in the future.  One more standout was "Right a Wrong".  A song about all the bullshit life has to offer and sometimes you have right the wrong to handle it.  Another well written tune.  The rest of the album is a journey through their eyes.  The songs are about real shit, that can happen, will happen or has happened to anybody.  At the same time they jam, make you want to dance, and forget your troubles.  Good time music indeed.  "Fragments" is slow burner at over 8 minutes about picking up the pieces, yet I still find myself bobbing my head, and rockin' along.  Again, who hasn't been there?  This is music you can relate to.

 

I'm looking forward to see how the songs play out live.  Now that the album is out it's time to tour. 

 

The album closes with a live cover of my favorite Doors song Peace Frog.  These guys again nail it, yet add their own "Sons magic" and make the song their own.  I'd be the first to say it if they butchered this song.  They don't.  Trust me.

 

These guys are friends of mine.  Hard working family guys.  Talented songwriters and musicians.  I'm honored to have reviewed their album on our little blog.  It's awesome that we all have our forums to bring music to the masses.  Now, if you're EVER in the Chicago area and they're playing go see them.  And buy their record!

 

-Mike Downing