Ginger, Baby

Father Bloopy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dippy
• ASIN: B000VX1U96
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,954 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Miami Beach may be famous for many things celebrity cachet, club chic, thongs, and a dearth of parking spaces. But it's generally not known for birthing rock stars. So when singer/guitarist/songwriter Roger Houdaille proclaims himself a Miami Beach homeboy, it doesn't necessarily affirm his credibility or credentials. Then again, dubbing his band Father Bloopy isn't exactly winning him points either. Fortunately Father Bloopy (which also includes bassist Nina Souto, drummer Eric Hernandez, and violinist Angelica Losada) has a sound that's so expressive and intriguing it overshadows all of these awkward inconsistencies. While the band's debut album, Ginger, Baby, makes few concessions to South Florida's multicultural mix (the reggaeton rhythms of "What's Kamila Doing?" aside), the smooth grooves and vibrant melodies create a heady brew. This is especially so on more assertive songs like "Aventura," "Hot Down," and "Two Tays Too Today." Houdaille's mix of swoon and croon finds him approximating an unlikely collision between Ray Davies and Devendra Banhart, a quirky combination that finds a surprisingly good fit with the densely textured mélange. "Miss Morality" suggests they've worn out the grooves on their ELO and Supertramp albums, but the retro references mesh seamlessly with their modern sensibilities. Be assured, the silly name is Father Bloopy's only blooper. --Miami New Times

Product Description

Ginger, Baby, the eclectic debut album by indie-rockers Father Bloopy on Dippy Records, has a classic sound that you'd swear you've heard before. The lead-off title track is so catchy that at first listen you find yourself singing along as if it is one of your longtime favorite songs. The only problem is that these are new songs, by a new band, comprised of a bunch of kids in their early twenties. Self-described diehards and collectors of early 60s and 70s art-rock, Father Bloopy's first album pays homage to a variety of obvious influences, including The Kinks, Lou Reed, and ELO, but they add a unique flair and a modern twist to the mix that is edgy and invigorating.

Clever as hell from start to finish, Ginger, Baby is filled with wry, witty lyrics that will please fans of smart-pop in addition to those who feast on catchy melodies and creative production.

Limited digipack edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it really grows on you, May 18, 2008

By 

Miss Jenna "Miss Jenna" (NE Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ginger, Baby (Audio CD)

This CD is amazing. The first time i heard it, i liked the songs at the beginning of the CD better than the songs at the end. But, I have had this CD in my car playing NON STOP for about a week now...and I have no plans to remove it. i just love it!!! I think you will too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!, November 12, 2007

By 

the ambassador (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ginger, Baby (Audio CD)

What a great freaking album. Totally agree with the first reviewer. This is the CD that Father Bloopy fans always knew was on the horizon. Singer/songwriter Roger Houdaille is also the bass player for the band TRANSCENDENCE, and some of these songs have been covered on Transcendence albums in the past. This CD may be the first official "debut" of Bloopy, but it is actually culled together from the best songs of the many underground EPs the band has released over the last five years -- each one a tasty nuggest hinting towards something really brilliant. All cleaned up now and it makes for a stellar collection that clearly represents what makes the band so exciting and addictive. (and quite disimilar from Transcendence actually, even though they are all in the same camp...)

The album's description is rather apropos. One has to think of Bloopy as a band stuck in 1971 or even 1967 creating the sound of the future, or vice versa. It is not hard to hear the Kinks or the Beatles or the Troggs or King Crimson or Bowie.

If Weezer were cool still and was making college music still... But even that is an unfair assessment because there are things about the Bloopy approach that is totally unique and fresh and has nothing to do with any other artists. You hear it in the most subtle aspects of each song. These littler weird things he does that come out of nowhere.

The basics are good solid melodic songwriting -- listen to florida no fault or Aventura. The voice is super catchy -- listen to the title cut. One of the coolest songs of all time. There is also that element of indie, lofi, hipness that suffuses from the project, similar to classic Dinosaur Jr in their glory days... best experienced through listening to the song Hot Down. Not sure what to call that. You notice Roxy Music, but it's still something else. Creative as hell, right down to the song titles themselves... baby youre lame, who pulled the child support... whats kamila doing... there is a brash disregard for the status quo that has always been a part of the Bloopy appeal. But over and above that it still comes down to really creative songwriting, catchy songs, unexpected twists in the production, and a cool voice that sounds familiar and yet different at the same time. Makes you feel at home.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Addictive!!, November 8, 2007

By 

Ian Thornton (Belgrade, Serbia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ginger, Baby (Audio CD)

I've been spinning "Ginger, Baby" non-stop since it arrived. The songs are all little masterpieces, each with their own character and style. Not only do you get instantly drawn in by the inevitable hooks, but on each listen you discover some new layer, some new angle for enjoyment.

The level of musicianship and production is first class. Hats off to "Father Bloopy" for an excellent job!!

Here's my top 5...

1. Baby your lame -- right from the drum opening, and masked vocals this one got me tapping along. Love the "I should know" chords and the main guitar riff too!!!

2. Aventutra. Impossible not to get carried along with the opening/main descending progression. Great guitar, as usual. Just really catchy.

3.Two Tays. For some strange reason the opening reminds me of early Billy Joel circa Streetlife Serenader. (This is good in my book). Just really like this track. The chorous/refrain is perfect!! This is my fav.

4. Miss Morality. This was my fav from their myspace profile page. Just a great song.

5. Hot Down. Like the simple drive. Adding the keyboard lines, very effective way to build up...

Although you may think I'm being biased (hey, I have no connection with this band whatsoever, apart from being a fan!!) I was playing the CD and my friend walked in. She immdediately sat down, forget what she was doing and proceeded to listen, saying "Hey, what's this? It's really good"!

I'm serious, this CD is addictive!!!