Here's a nifty little album that's much deeper than it initially seems. The Frank & Joe Show – actually a New York City four-piece – open its third album, Submarine Bus, with a simple little percussion lick, followed by a light bass riff and then some keyboard sprinklings. The rhythm gains in intensity and complexity until all four band members — who often pull double-duty on guitar, bass and drums – begin jabbering, Santana-like, the word "Alikakal" over and over. From there, The Frank & Joe Show never lets up until the curtain falls one hour and 10 songs later. The quartet indulges in acoustic gypsy jazz ("I Trust In You"), groove-laden half-spoken/half-sung tunes ("Hey You"), circa-1970s heavy metal ("Gravitational Pull") and pseudo-novelty ditties ("Barry's Trading Soybeans"). Then there's "Trilogy," which has a little bit of everything packed into its seven minutes — including country swing, the rustling of a Fritos bag and manly belches. Submarine Bus ends with a track as confounding as the album's opening song was simple: "BBBBBADLP" is a fast, acoustic and nonsensical song that repeats several different people's names, including Al DiMeola and Les Paul. I don't know what it all means, but I like it.
Track Listing:
1) Baby Wipes
2) I Trust In You
3) Hey You
4) In the Hills
5) Fred and Jake
6) Submarine Bus
7) Trilogy (The Gig Call, Sittin' On the Couch, Let's Bowl)
8) Gravitational Pull
9) Barry's Trading Soybeans
10) BBBBBADLP
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