Monday, Feb. 7, 2011
Various Artists
Thongs in the Key Of Life, Vol. IV
You've probably heard it, but you may not have
known what to call it. Singing Milwaukee journalist Jim Hoehn calls it “trop
rock,” as in tropical. Hoehn's enthusiasm has yielded his fourth
compilation of bands from across the United States with affinity for steel
drums, tequila and sunny climes. Hoehn curates the genre's
diversity to appealing effect. Some relatively hard and brassy funk, bits
of reggae, salsa tango and mariachi mingle with unexpectedly
plaintive folk and the hook-laden country rock that predominates. There
are enough different iterations of the lyrical theme of escaping the
humdrum of the workaday rat race to keep the proceedings from sagging. That's
especially the case when ukulele, tuba, steel guitar and accordion show up
in the mix. Almost as a matter of course, trop-rock godfather
Jimmy Buffett receives a salute on one song as well.



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