Customer Reviews

G.Love & Special Sauce

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is great in a Zen sense: It just IS great. Inspired by, derived from, because of, in spite of -- no matter. No matter how G.Love and pals got to the point the did, they did, and the results are magic.

I say this because G. Love, from a sarcastic critic's eye, is a billboard-sized target. His affected bluesman scat borders on parody, and his wirey delta chops were more likely absorbed through 70 watts of Volvo wagon stereo than a Mississippi roadhouse -- white boys singing the blues are always suspect, and usually with good cause.

But once in a blue moon, one of our suburban brethren pops out a keeper. And man, this IS a keeper. Six years and, I don't know, 200 plays later, this disc is still as fresh and smooth as a peach. There is simply nothing else that sounds like this, it just clicked, this is THE sound. It swings, it rocks, it grooves, it flows, it chops, it dices -- it works.

Somewhere down the line, someone will call you out on this disc, accuse it of being a fraud, and point you instead to some "real" blues in the form a scratchy 78 vinyl 1923 pressing of Old Man Blind Whisky Slim Johnson. Have none of this. Enjoy this disc, enjoy it often, and it enjoy it guilt-free.

G. Love (Garret Dutton) and his band, Special Sauce are a somewhat underrated band from Philly that are emblematic (in the best way possible) of the rare musical amalgamation of folk, blues and hip-hop. G's delightful talent is displayed here on his first cd in a very mellow, summery manner. The singles Cold Beverage (for a brief extant it played on a Coors commercial) and Baby's Got Sauce received moderate success, but really, every song on the album is fun and unique, all capable of being singles. My favorite track is probably This Ain't Living, but I really like every song on the cd. If you're in the mood for some upbeat, relaxed tunes, this is a great buy. It will really please you, and it's one of those cds you can listen to countless times without getting tired of it. G sums things up pretty well on the final song as he croons so simply and sweetly, "I know it sounds old, but I love you."

What I like most about G. Love is that he was one of the few artists in the mid 1990's who had the guts to put out an album that was so faithful to the blues yet created something new by fusing it with a hip hop attitude and delivery. I have always felt that some of the elements of rap were present in popular music as far back as the lyrics of Chuck Berry, but G. Love took the setting of bluesmen like Son House and combined it with rap, ultimately creating a new genre. I read an article where he stated he only played the oldest Dobros he could find to give the music an authentic feel, and it definitely worked. He also displayed a knowledge of blues history and manages to name many of the key players in blues history from 1920-1970 in a verse of "Blues Music". I can listen to this disc all the way through without skipping anything; the grooves they laid down are infectious. This CD always makes me feel like I'm on the back porch in the summertime. If you like that feeling, this one is for you.

Hard to top this one. I have been listening to G for nearly a decade now ever since a friend turned me onto them in 95. How dare the Amazon reviewer Geoffrey Himes even compare G-Love to REM or Michael Stipe. There is no connection, and G-Love & Special Sauce has their own very groovy mellow "making you feel good" groove. It is hard to beat. Whether cruising on a road trip, kickin back with family & friends on lazy summer night or out on a date & trying to set the mood, this album feels good and enhances the positve vibe.

Raw, gritty, honest, and beautifuly simple, this CD excemplifies everythng wonderful in life. With only his harmonica, a guitar, a stand up bass and a blues drummer, G Love is perfection in imperfection. This Cd will get me in a good mood when I am down, and keep me there when I am feelin oh' so right like no other can.

So I have to thank Erika Lucas, for introducing G Love into my life. This Cd was the catylist for my musical wonderings. Listening to this led to Jack Johnson, Ben harper, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Coldplay, Ben Folds, Moby, miles davis and David Gray. And unlike what the reviewer states above, the album will hold up untill Cd's are out of style and the new form of experiencing music comes around.

G-love and Special Sauce's style of Blues/Hip-hop/funk is very reminiscent of the genre's trailblazer, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. With beats that your foot can't help but tap to and witty, tounge-in-cheek lyrics about Sex and Life in the big city, Special Sauce owes as much to Mr. Spencer as they do McDonalds. With all comparison's aside, though, this CD accomplishes exactly what it was made to. Its a CD that you can turn on and let play from track 1-14 without skipping a track. hooray.

The first time I listened to G Love I wasn't sure whether I liked the band or not. After 5 years since buying my first G Love CD I have found it second to none.

Hey, G. Love & Special Sauce has been my favorite band since the day I was introduced to them back in 1994. I was hooked when I heard "Baby's Got Sauce". They mix hip-hop, rock and blues into a great original flavor that now many musical artists are trying to immitate. There are so many great songs on the CD and you'll be drawn in. I heard this album first, and then the others when they came out. So, I recommend starting with this one. I think that you'll love the style of these Philly boys. Put this baby in your collection, dig? Peace & One Love.

G. Love and Special Sauce is a fresh breath of summer air. I think this album is perfect for summer! It has the roots of classic jazz and original hip-hop style mixed together to perfection. I love it!

G Love & Special Sauce border the gap between a gimmick and art. The catch is, that G Love isn't a gimmick in the same nature that a guy singing 90's grunge songs with a jazz big band is (which by the way DOES exist most unfortunately). G Love's music is absolutely a blast to listen to. The delivery of the lyrics gives the music something concretely distinctive. The lyrics are genius and inoffensive (which is refreshing to hear). Also, G Love is a musician opposed to a guy who sells music. Granted, the music isn't terribly complex, but simple as it is, G Love shows some talent through his guitar playing and harmonica work. Some songs stand out more than others do, but this album is overall a gem. Fans of Jack Johnson and Beck owe a listen to G Love and Special Sauce.