Don Byron "Do The Boomerang"

[Man with the Golden Arm]

this one's been getting some buzz. Byron gets a bit o funk goin'? sounds like it'll be a good band live but maybe some regular Jr. might have more octane.

>clips<

[Dr. Rat]

I have a soft spot in my heart for Byron, and I like this one pretty well. His tenor tone is WAY different from Walker's, but that adds to the interest for me.

--eric

[Spontooneous]

Tried it. Didn't like it.

But it might have worked with a more interesting tenor player.

[Soul Stream]

I guess my question was why they didn't do anything different with the material? Their version of "Shotgun" is an exact copy of the original...sounded like a coverband in a Holiday Inn to my ears. What's the point if you're not going to do anything different with the songs? Plus, I thought the vocals weren't happening (blandish jingle singer sounding). And the over the top blues guitar by Chris Thomas...no wonder he didn't stick around Antone's too long.

I really dug the IDEA of this, and bought it hoping for the best. (P.S...I don't buy a whole lot of new release stuff). But, as usual with a new release...disappointment.

Pretty bland stuff.

[Chuck Nessa]

So, new music is a bad idea?

[JSngry]

Tried it. Didn't like it.

But it might have worked with a more interesting tenor player.

Is there any reason to hope that he's a more interesting tenor player than he is clarinetist?

[Chuck Nessa]

[ghost of miles]

I dunno--my experience listening to Byron has increasingly been that the idea's more interesting/appealing/what-have-you than the record that follows it.

[Joe G]

I guess my question was why they didn't do anything different with the material? Their version of "Shotgun" is an exact copy of the original...sounded like a coverband in a Holiday Inn to my ears. What's the point if you're not going to do anything different with the songs? Plus, I thought the vocals weren't happening (blandish jingle singer sounding). And the over the top blues guitar by Chris Thomas...no wonder he didn't stick around Antone's too long.

I really dug the IDEA of this, and bought it hoping for the best. (P.S...I don't buy a whole lot of new release stuff). But, as usual with a new release...disappointment.

Pretty bland stuff.

Though, you sound good on there, Mike.

[Soul Stream]

[danasgoodstuff]

Listened to the clips, made me want to listen to the Jr W I already own, and maybe buy more of that, but did not make me want to buy this new CD. It lacks the commitment of the originals, lessinteresting than Brit invasion bands playing R&B (bought some early Sm Faces today at Tower, "You Need Love" anyone?). Oh, and I generally like Don B even if I agree that the ideas are often more interesting than the outcome...

[king ubu]

so Byron has exchanged his shrieky clarinet with chirpy organ?

[Big Al]

I dunno--my experience listening to Byron has increasingly been that the idea's more interesting/appealing/what-have-you than the record that follows it.

Same here.

[Mike Schwartz]

The year is close anough to the end to say that for me, "Do The Boomerang" is the most fun CD I've heard this year. Nothing wrong about some unpretentious FUN!

Byron was on my weekly program on KSJS, San Jose 11/19 as we featured the CD after a interesting Q&A

He also was on Fresh Air with Terri Gross talking about the CD (archived at NPR)

[BFrank]

Anyone seen this group live? That may be the real test.

He's bringing it to Yoshi's next month.