By Mita Tate

What exactly is a Zuton? Well frankly we don’t have the slightest clue, but whatever it is-it’s damn good. Cat Stevens-esque folk, Jon Spencer’s Blues Explosion funk, Television-inspired garage rock and a little orchestral pop and arena rock thrown in for good measure make up The Zutons’ rather eclectic sound. The Liverpool-based band classify themselves as “soul-funk-voodoo vibe”-whatever that means.

While the music on Who Killed The Zutons? is incredibly diverse, the vocals are also a high point. Shaggy screams, funky crooning and everything in between, lead vocalist/guitarist and Zutons-founder, David McCabe realizes how important insightful lyrics and diverse vocals are to this type of music. Often, musically-great bands are ruined by poor lyrical content or whiny vocals, but McCabe’s down-to-earth voice fits perfectly with The Zutons’ sound. This is typified in “Dirty Dancehall” with lyrics like “Everyone’s dancing / Feeling fine / But looking like zombies / As though they’re dying / This is just a night in the city of culture / But everyone’s wife looks like vultures.”

The first track “Zuton Fever” mixes psychadelic rock riffs with vintage rockabilly and works as the perfect opener to this eclectic mix. The interplay between the lead and rhythm sections, along with a subtle horn section make for a rather clever song and would make even the most fickle Man or…Astro-man? fan happy.

Other interesting tracks include the melodramatic “Havana Gang Brawl,” the Echo And The Bunnymen-inspired “Not A Lot To Do” and “You Will You Won’t,” which sounds like a classic funk anthem.

The one problem with Who Killed The Zutons? is that it sounds eerily similar to The Coral-another popular British band with a unique sound. Tracks like “Remember Me” and “Railroad” sound similar to “Skeleton Key” and “Bad Man” respectively. Despite this downside, The Zutons are still a formidable group with tight musicianship and witty, insightful lyrics and with The Corals lackluster sophomore release earlier this year, The Zutons have a chance to take over Liverpool as well as the Western world.

With the release of Who Killed The Zutons? and a US tour with Muse, including a stop at New York’s infamous Webster Hall on Nov. 11, Americans will finally have a chance to catch the “Zuton

Fever.”