Customer Reviews

Chasin Rainbows

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this record on the strength of "Fine Artiste Blues" back when it first came out. I'd always enjoyed R. Crumb's art work and I knew this collection would be something different. It's a grab bag of styles all played with old-timey string band instrumentation. "Alabama Jubilee" is also a standout, but there are really no clinkers. Plenty of Hawaiian guitar and some GREAT musical saw. The overall feel of the album is lighthearted and casual, but the level of musicianship is actually quite high. Can't think of another group that comes close to the Suits' sound so you'll just have to hear them for yourself. You won't be disappointed. I have gone back to this recording many times over the years and it always brings a smile.

I've been a fan of R. Crumb ever since the underground comics heyday of the late 60s. Knowledgeable fans of Crumb's comics know also that he is very much into Delta blues and other uniquely American forms of music. On Chasin' Rainbows, Crumb and a few like-minded fellows indulge themselves in a seemingly silly but also very serious project of bringing old songs to life using offbeat instruments. Alabama Jubilee is a great song and the performance first-rate. Diane is evocative of a German country tune. Fine Artiste Blues is a great crack at, what else, "artistes". I don't know where Crumb and Co. dug these up as I'd only heard a couple before, but if you like well done novelty songs,you are sure to enjoy such ditties as Hula Medley, Mysterious Mose, She Lived Down By the Firehouse, and Make My Cot Where the Cot-Cot-Cotton Grows as well as the others. There are loads of laughs and some good music to boot. Listen to it in the spirit in which it was made. I give this five stars for its pure entertainment value.

I'm a big fan of indie-rock and avante-garde jazz, but I can't deny a serious affinity for good down-home music like this. This band of misfits, dorks and comic-book geeks has got the right idea when it comes to playin' some 'toons (pun intended). The atmosphere of this music is silly, goofy, slightly perverse and deeply sincere. If you liked the music from "Oh Brother where art thou", but thought the movie was inauthentic and a bit shallow, you should give this a listen. This is the real deal.

Chasin Rainbows has never failed me. I follow the advice in the last line of that song and I'm ready again. There is also something very special about watching artists from the Lower-east side of New York or from Williamsburg, Brooklyn hear Fine Artist Blues for the first time. Holy smokes.

I first heard this album almost 20 years ago and only recently rediscovered it. R Crumb and Co. are great musicians who have carved out a unique niche in American music - string band old-timey cartoon-style music. What a lot of fun this group must have had puttin' this together! R Crumb - I know you're in France now, but we still need your music!

Finally, some REAL music. It had been a long time since I had heard such sincere and rustic musical farcities. Although Robert Crumb is "way out there", his handling of his short stab at the music game proves that if you have a dream, you can"t be all bad. Nice cello parts from Terry Zwigoff. "Persian Rug" has got to be one of the best of the best. Buy it, you'll like it!

This is another great CD from Mr. Crumb et al. I am so thankful that people are still playing this music at all, let alone with the style and grace these guys have. You'll laugh and you'll marvel at the musicianship, and the vocals go perfectly with it. Their next one was even better with the addition of genius Bob Brozman. Get both!

This is a thoroughly delightful disc, one I listen to frequently. It's also one of the two Cheap Suits' discs that you can easily find, at least in my experience. Grab it and growl. Crumb has nice 20's falsetto voice that does the material enjoyable justice and the instrumentals are lovingly played. Yeah, there are a few missed notes here and there, but this is just super stuff. Thanks to R. Crumb for pointing us in the direction of this music. There are hundreds and hundreds of discs coming out with rarities that used to only be heard in the basements of collectors. Learn more about the beauties of American music before WW2. You can start right here.

A mix of black country string band, blues, vaudeville, hokey and sentimental 20's music. This is not a joke or comedy album, you can tell R Crumbs has a deep love for this music and the group's playing is first rate. Lots of fun. Buy this before it goes out of print, like his first album on CD that commands about $100 on e-Bay.

R. Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders were an "old timey" band fronted by the legendary underground cartoonist. This CD is a reissue of their second album, originally titled "Number Two". The four band members are clearly having fun here, without taking themselves too seriously. They are playing the kind of music they like, and having a blast doing it. While they aren't really professional musicians, what they lack in technical ability, they make up for in enthusiasm. If you enjoy "old timey" music, you will enjoy this CD.