| The
(second) latest release from the Shoeshine hit factory is
an 8-song CD from Philadelphia's favourite son, Ben
Vaughn. Aside from a string of wonderful surf/pop/rock solo albums, Ben has worked with Alex Chilton & Alan Vega, produced Ween, Charlie Feathers & Arthur Alexander, and makes rock n roll for aliens, composing the soundtrack for the US TV sitcom "Third Rock From The Sun". |
 |
Available now, "A Date With Ben Vaughn" is packed with brand new Vaughn gems such as "Two Mile Road" (moodier than a barrel full of Chris Isaaks); "Ain't Gonna Walk In The Shade" (pushing rock n roll revival to heights undreamed of by Showadawaddy); "Ava Gardner Blues" (beautiful, dark country blues). Make a date with Ben Vaughn now and this could be the start of a beautiful love affair...
"A Date With" tracklisting * Some album reviews
*You will need the latest version of Real Player to listen to the soundclips which can be downloaded here.
"Eight raw country-rock gems;
stand-outs: gentle Love Leave Me Alone; Me-And-Bobby-McGee-esque
Ava Gardner Blues; Chris Isaak-meets-Doors Two Mile Road"
Mojo
"This mini-album of new songs
combines dancey licks with roots sentiments - like a more
exciting Chris Isaak"
The Independent
"This is a super set that grows on
you quickly...it's solid with killer tracks such as 'Love Leave
Me Alone' and 'Ain't Gonna Walk In The Shade', and if you want an
introduction to Vaughn, this could be a good place to
start..."
Record Collector
"Is he - gulp - the last noble voice
of the nerdy, culturally disaffected, shag-unfriendly and quietly
inadequate man: the Woody Allen of pop?"
The Guardian
"He tackles anything from breakbeats
to cut-up blues, stirred in with a side order of rockabilly and
post-Orbison schmaltz. The Kind of record that makes hanging out
on the front stoop seem quite cool"
The Evening Standard
"With a voice like a cross between
Lou Reed and Johnny Cash, Ben Vaughn is well worth listening
to...almost essential listening"
The Fife Free Press
"You have to say 'yes' to a date
with Ben's LP because it entails spooksome lone guitar; cheesy
rumba'ing, and lyrics like: "I used to think we reap what we
sow/But now...I don't know", all delivered with the skewed
country-rock dignity of Johnny Cash, Jonathan Richman and Charley
Pride. Pucker up..."
The Herald
"He may be a bit of an oddball to
the outside world but this eight track mini-album by Ben Vaughn
is one of those CD's I know I'II be playing to people for years
to come, when it's too late and deleted."
Get Rhythm
"If you hear it or buy it you will
be well rewarded."
Morning Star Newspaper
"Kinky blues with brilliant
percussion...if you haven't got a car 'Two mile Road' will make
you want to go out and buy one just so you can play it as you
cruise along (preferably on a never-ending dusty highway) and
'Ain't Gonna Walk in the Shade' will have fans wearing brothel
creepers with their cowboy hats 'n' spurs."
Rock Sound
"Mixing twang with beats...one
minute you're sitting round the campfire with Chris Isaak and
Hank Williams for Love Leave Me Alone and the next it's bontempi
time on Quote Unquote or shuffling through tongue in cheek beats
n folk blues for Out On The Porch. Johnny Cash walks to tick
tocking line for Ava Gardner Blues and Six By Six, Alan Vega
croons under a desert moon on Waiting Game and Ain't Gonna Walk
In The Shade gathers down by the riverside with Dylan and Charlie
Feathers. One for Austin art school shindigs."
*** Mike Davies, Brumbeat
"Extremely talented"
Rock 'n' Reel
You may be more familiar with Vaughn's
work than you realise - he is the man behind the theme songs of
numerous TV shows like 3rd Rock From the Sun & It's A Man's
World. Here, his Orbison-ish sensibility, fine guitar play and
economic use of arrangement/production makes for a superb
collection of country-blues inflected music that reveals depths
his soundtrack work barely touches.
-Kevin Matthews, the BigO (Singapore)
"Very impressive, mixing rock 'n'
roll, rockabilly and country music in equal measure. Very much a
timeless performer, Vaughn has the songs and the style to make a
major impact. All he needs is a lucky break somewhere down the
line."
The Tip Sheet (industry newsletter); Live Review From 12 Bar
Club, London
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