With music fans debating the very meaning of the term "progressive" more than ever these days, we at the Sea believe that expanding the boundaries of listeners' minds is just as important as expanding the boundaries of the genre. Enter the Sim Redmond Band, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based outfit that takes old-as-dirt musical forms and gives them a bright new shine. Progressive in the purest sense of the word? Yep. One critic referred to this five-man-and-one-woman collaborative as "roots rock with an African twist." I can't top that description, so I won't even try. What I will tell you is that the band's vocalist and multi-instrumentalist namesake has collected an energetic and talented group of players who deserve more mainstream attention than many of their more successful peers, including the overrated Dave Matthews Band. That will never happen, of course, but it's no reason to pass up this appealing album. Jen Middaugh's earthy vocals add touches of pop class, drummer and percussionist Asa Redmond turns in a worldly two-and-a-half-minute solo on "Ngoma" that's worthy of power-metal skins master Mike Terrana, and the rhythmic music boasts an overall carefree groove that's both intoxicating and relaxing. By the way, the Sim Redmond Band has toured Japan four times since its 1999 inception. Yet in America, these guys (and gal) have barely made it out of the Northeast. What's wrong with this picture?
Track Listing:
1) Pink Guitar
2) Lately
3) Ray of Sunshine
4) Just Right
5) Potholes
6) Ngoma
7) All I Ever Had
8) E-Fumo
9) Carry On
10) Hanshin Tigers
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