Album Review

Lt. Dan’s New Legs –

• 3rd Feb 2008

Lt. Dan’s New Legs (LDNL) are a US Fugees/Joss Stone/Republic of Loose sextet amalgamation that notably consists of 5 instrument toting vocalists. Yeah you read it right, 5! What do they have to offer, what’s their goal, what makes their sound their own? In a nutshell, they make energetic live music that sounds like it’s fresh from the studio and fit for any CD, not only making them competent musicians but a rare act to try to follow. Are their sexily titled songs any good? Let’s see…

Video Girl: A strong pop element (that echoes both 80s track Nu Shoes by Nu Shoes and 2Pac’s California Love) as it rides a bass heavy backdrop of beats and street ready bedlam. The boys deliver their laid back, schmoove and perhaps too schmaltzy vocal whilst the ladeeez serve up a sleazy slice of sensuality.

Closa: Wave your hands in the air (yes, like you just don’t care)! A predominant vocal onslaught mesmerizes as the track flies by as you groove along. Sweet!

2 Sexy: JBs in the house?! Doin’ our own dang/ I’ll house you are both summoned as an outrageous guitar slinks along on its merry way beneath the up-tempo beats and house sourced keys. The vocals are sharp and fluent throughout.

Boing: Their capturing the good times and vibes of early 90s hip hop is welcome and long overdue and hearing this I just hope they collaborate with the likes of Doc Brown and maybe even ska outfits like our own superb Sonic Boom Six.

Make Da Bed Go: More Mr. Loverman than Mr. Boombastic, this midnight loving anthem is every bit as unsurprising as it is well executed. Perhaps LDNLs downfall begins to show here, and that’s their lack of diversity. They’re obviously capable musicians who bond a free flow well amongst each other, so come on guys, serve up something fresh with your various elements and stir it up some.

Lap Dance: If Spearmint Rhino are looking for a theme tune, this could be it! This is a crisper, less immersed track that doesn’t delve too deep in the pot of phat frolicking. And its accessibility makes it shine.

It seems truly incredible that this is a live band doing their thing without any studio trickery. I can only imagine that they hit full effect on the live circuit as opposed to the somewhat energy and dynamic restraining boundaries of a mere recording. And for that fact alone I salute them, though their inarguably infectious tunes do help.