By Mike Fordham
Who would’ve thought that indie rock would appeal to jam band fans? Lately, there have been several artists who have garnered audiences from the jamband realm as well as the indie rock world. Groups such as the Mars Volta, Gomez, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Thievery Corporation now play to a wide variety of crowds. The Benevento Russo Duo is the latest such band that could unite groove-happy hippies and snobbish hipsters. Best Reason To Buy The Sun melds together elements of electronica, jazz, rock and funk into a kaleidoscope of sound.
Rooted in jazz, the Benevento Russo Duo bear an eerie resemblance to Medeski Martin & Wood (both are instrumental jazz groups, both hail from New York City). Whereas MMW took a quick side trip into electronica with Combustication, the Duo dutifully incorporate the genre via Marc Benevento’s keys. Also helping the band embrace other genres of music besides jazz is producer Joey Waronker. His eclectic influence on the Duo is quite evident, judging from Waronker’s session work for the likes of Beck and R.E.M. How else can electronica jazz freak-outs like “Scratchitti” and “Becky?” be explained? Adding to the madness is the electronic groove that bolsters “Becky” and jam hero Skerik’s funk sax on “Scratchitti.” Needless to say, these are two standout tracks on the disc.
The Benevento Russo Duo dabbles with programming, with varying results. “Welcome Red” lulls around with programmed beats, giving the Postal Service a run for its money. “Sunny’s Song,” “My Pet Goat” and “9×9” flutter about, but never end up anywhere.
Since the band got its start in the jazz scene, it’s shocking that there isn’t more of a jazz influence on the album. “Bronko’s Blues” and “Vortex” showcase the Duo’s loose, avant-garde take on jazz, but yielding nothing entirely original. A much more traditional jazz sound in “The Three Question Marks” gives way into a playful drums and piano “battle,” before a wall of distorted guitar overpowers it all. This disc could use more bouts of fun and creativity like this.
As with any group classified as a jam band, the album is merely a springboard for monolithic live jams. While the group experiments with and bends genres on a whim on stage, the fusion of styles does not make the transition onto tape. Still, jamband fans and indie rockers alike could equally groove to Best Reason To Buy The Sun, and enjoy the journey.