to listen or purchase
Bump Kitchen’s Who Ordered The Waffle? is an album tailor made for musicians and serious fans of funk music. Casual fans might not care about hearing a band where the musicians demand equal billing with the vocalist. And that’s not because lead singer Tony Harper can’t hold his own. Nothing can be further from the truth. Harper has raspy, throaty tenor voice that’s perfectly in sync with the high energy brand of rock infused funk that is Bump Kitchen’s forte. It’s just that Bump Kitchen features a group of musicians who play at a high level. Living as we do in what can be called the era known for the cult of the singer – particularly in R&B - the kind of virtuosity displayed by this band may not be appreciated by casual listeners. That’s too bad because these guys smoke from beginning to end.
Bump Kitchen’s Who Ordered The Waffle? is an album tailor made for musicians and serious fans of funk music. Casual fans might not care about hearing a band where the musicians demand equal billing with the vocalist. And that’s not because lead singer Tony Harper can’t hold his own. Nothing can be further from the truth. Harper has raspy, throaty tenor voice that’s perfectly in sync with the high energy brand of rock infused funk that is Bump Kitchen’s forte. It’s just that Bump Kitchen features a group of musicians who play at a high level. Living as we do in what can be called the era known for the cult of the singer – particularly in R&B - the kind of virtuosity displayed by this band may not be appreciated by casual listeners. That’s too bad because these guys smoke from beginning to end. The cut “I’ll Decide” oozes machismo as Harper rips through a tune in which he admonishes his lady about the bad choices she makes. The solution to grab some of her autonomy and start making decisions might rub some ladies the wrong way. But the song that features Joe Bevens doing some inspired plucking and thumping on his bass perfectly sums up the Bump Kitchen sensibility right down to the unaccompanied guitar solo that takes the song out. These guys have the skills and they aren’t ashamed to show it.
Notable Tracks: Mona Lisa, Don’t Doubt, I’ll Decide, Traffic
Vocals: 3.0
Lyrics: 2.5
Music: 3.5
Production: 3.0
Soultracks Call: Recommended
By Howard Dukes