30 Odd Foot of Grunts - Bastard Life Or Clarity
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Free Music Notes for Bastard Life Or Clarity
Free Music Review: Russell Crowe: Rock Star!
Hit: 5 Stars
When Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe isn't doing movies, he sings & plays in a rock band called 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts. And the amazing thing is, he's actually GOOD! His album with the Grunts, "Bastard Life Or Clarity," is a strong collection of rockers and lighter acoustic stuff. I put this CD on for my co-workers the other day, and ALL of them were very impressed with Crowe's musical talents (especially the ladies, who are all now scrambling for a copy themselves!). Crowe's already proven himself a fine actor, but who knew the guy could also sing, write, and play guitar so well? No doubt about it, this ain't no William Shatner album.The one thing that struck everybody at my workplace was how Crowe's singing voice has an uncanny resemblance to Elvis Costello (albeit a deeper-voiced Costello). His vocal delivery is quite smooth, and his guitar playing is firm (no flashy guitar solos, really, just good and steady playing). And, by gum, Crowe can also write! His songs (some co-written with other band members) show that Crowe also has a good flare for melody and tunefulness, as well as intriguing lyrics. And while Crowe is most certainly the star of the band, the rest of the five-man group are just as strong on their own instruments to back him up.With Crowe's hugely successful film-career in total overdrive at the moment, it's anybody's guess if he'll ever get around to doing another album with 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts, let alone find the time to promote THIS one. But one thing is quite certain: Russell Crowe CAN have a successful second career in music if he pursues it far enough. He's definitely got the talent for it. "Bastard Life Or Clarity" is quite a musical discovery, a very good album by a very good rock band, led by a very talented man who really CAN do it all. Spread the word!Free Music Review: Delighted by the Grunts
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm surprised to find BLOC available from ..., but happy the wider world is discovering Russell and the band. I too found TOFOG while learning more about Russell Crowe, and was happy I did. From "Gaslight" I went to Austin to hear them live, and got my BLOC from Oz, with a special interview disc that explains a lot about the evolution of the songs. Russell writes beautifully metaphorical lyrics and the band really rocks with him. The recent addition of the trumpet has sharpened the sound and the attention that their focused time recording in Austin produced really shows in the quality of the music. TOFOG's music reflects Russell's sensibilities and the passion we admire in his film work is everywhere in this music. The consummate storyteller tells haunting stories here, as always, pulled from real life. While I listen often to hear Russell's beautiful voice, the music is infectious and a lot of fun. I'm "swept away" by this cd! I am continually amazed that a man so protective of his privacy reveals himself so intimately in his music. "Stalking your scent through the kitchen" and "succomb to the flowers who say they'll marry me" have to be two of the most sensuous phrases I've ever heard sung. I recently saw Sting in concert and the Grunts can match his musicianship right down to the trumpet solos. My only complaint with this album is that it is too short, and that three songs are new versions of ones on Gaslight. Since they recorded 16 more in Austin, we can hope that another album is in the works. Buy this for The Man, but listen for the music.Free Music Review: The next Beatles? G'die mite.
Hit: 5 Stars
It's amazing how a continent with so few people in it can produce so many amazing multitalents. It's even more amazing when it comes packaged in a hunk leading actor, a new James Bond slash Clint Eastwood slash Mel Gibson, winning a best actor Oscar already -- all this would be enough for most, but Russell Crowe has a brain in his head, and puts it in his great songs. This one album has more memorable tracks than any ten others that came out the same year worldwide. And the great one-liners, e.g., "I know that history only exists because of war" -- that one from Memorial Day belongs in a thinker's quotation book. Each song has many levels; like great music, which can be listened to over and over, the personal one is only the start. The instrument-playing is reminiscent of the Beatles just before they made it big -- full of promise and final perfection if they go into the studio for a year or three. Perhaps TOFOG will make it big and start an Aussie invasion of America, only do it right this time -- totally mature and laid back, reflective. Ironically, to push them over the top all they need is another tragic unjust American war to heighten sensitivities... one does seem to be coming, if not from south of the border, then from the Middle East, or perhaps China. You're my gladiator, Russell baby, and my list is counted.Free Music Review: This gamble paid off
Hit: 5 Stars
I'd never heard of 30 Odd Foot of Grunts or Bastard Life or Clarity until about three weeks ago when I stumbled on references to them while Web-surfing. I bought BLOC purely on a lark of curiosity. And I can't stop listening to it.Its 10 tracks dip into a variety of music styles: rock, folk, ballad, traditional, even country. And each song tells a story with lyrics that are unpredictable and, therefore, entreat you to learn them and sing along -- if you can.
Russell Crowe is TOFOG's lead singer and storyteller-lyricist. His gravelly voice is atonal and rough, characteristics that come to the fore particularly as he solos in Hold You. But it is also invitingly raspy and full-bodied, complementing the backup in the more energized tracks such as Things Have Got to Change, Sail Those Same Oceans, Somebody Else's Princess and Swept Away Bayou.
The texture of each song is vividly brought out by the emotional sounds of Stewart Kirwan's trumpet, which lends depth and heart as it dishes up melancholy laments in Hold You and Wendy.
Without the techno gizmos of 21st century musicmaking, and with songs that tell tales of suicide, unrequited love, war and drug overdose, Bastard Life or Clarity is an adventure.
Enjoy the ride.
Free Music Review: This is an album worth finding and having...
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought and waited with great anticipation or this album to be released last January (when it was released in Australia). I'd not heard much of TOFOG, but I like all kinds of music. I was not disappointed. I love this album, though it's not like most of what you find on the market I think that's what appeals most to me about it. It's music with mind and mood of it's own that doesn't sound repetative. It's completely original not a copy of a copy, which is something I value greatly as it's nice to have different flavors in music. BLOC is very deffinately worth the money even being an import. The most important thing is to judge it for the content not the fact that Russell Crowe is the singer for the band. It's a rocking piece, I've worn out two cd players just with this album it's that good. My favorite tracks are 1 Things have got to change, 3 Hold you, 4 Sail those same oceans,5 The legend of Barry Kable, 8 The night Davey hit the train, and 10 Judas Cart. While it's not all upbeat pop, it doesn't feel out of place being what it is. I look forward to future releases from TOFOG, as well as future tours they're great to see live and really nice guys.