Ok, Let me preface this review by saying that I am a HUGE Brian Setzer fan. I have loved him since the Stray Cats and was a happy camper when he resurfaced in 1994 with the Brian Setzer Orchestra and his new swing sound. But, I truly believe that he peaked with his second record Guitar Slinger and everything since has not quite been able to compare.
This new record Vavoom is a solid effort, but I can’t quite get 100% behind my hero Brian just yet. There are some things I absolutely LOVED on this disc, but unfortunately there are also things that I absolutely hated. Brian’s voice on every track is dead on and never once sounds less than stellar. He has so much style and character that he is the only contemporary artist to come close to giving Louie Prima a run for his money. Setzer has also always been known for his guitar chops and the technical work on Vavoom will not disappoint any of his legions of fans that worship his technical skills.
So, now for the downside. Much of this album has a novelty feel the respect for this genre that Setzer demonstrated in the past seems lost. I mean, there is a RAP on the track called "Gettin’ In The Mood" for krissake! The single "Pennsylvania 6-5000" has it’s moments, but overall sounds kind of, well...cheesy. Highlights on Vavoom are without a doubt the Setzer originals. Brian is at his best when he is pouring his heart into a brand spankin’ new cut. Tracks such as "If You Can’t Rock Me," "The Footloose Doll," and "That’s The kind Of Sugar Papa Likes," are the best examples of his ability to take the best of a dying genre and infusing it with his own contemporary style.
I wish I could be more behind Setzer’s most recent effort, but I have faith that he’ll soon win my heart again. In the mean time, I’ll just have to get used to using the good ‘ol "skip" button.
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