Customer Reviews

Miracle Mule

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my first experience with the music of the Subdudes, an it will not be the last. There is not a bad song on the entire CD. Brightest Star, I'm Angry, Known to Touch Me and Morning Glory are all excellent songs. I usually don't like the term Roots Rock, but it does apply here. a great amalagram of Soul, Nworleans R& B, Gospel, Rock and Roll and Country that only could be pulled off by a southern band. In fact for some reason this reminds me of the early sides by the Allman Bros. Not that they are guitar jams, but that they effortlessly blend a soulful cocktail of music. Even my kids (age 3 and 6) love this. They always request the Donkey CD anytime we go anywhere in the car.

Hurricane Katrina smashed into the gulf coast near Waveland, Mississippi on August 29, 2005. In the immediate aftermath - New Orleans residents, with a heavy sigh of relief, thought their prayers had been answered 'til the water started rising in the streets.
Much of New Orleans, built below sea level, was inundated following catastrophic breaks in the protective levees. The water rose to 15 feet in some areas and drowned 3/4's of the city.
Submerged in the awful brine was a good friend's extensive CD library that seemed to have faired better than his LP collection.
"These can be saved," I told him.
When he left the next day for Cleveland, his newly adopted home. --- I began to realize the scope of my elected task- a tedious cleaning of hundreds of CD's that may have well been left on a trash pile.
In the process of archiving the undamaged CD's I came across a disk that the Itunes database did not recognize. It was an advance CD of the Subdudes' Miracle Mule. The song order did not seem quite right so I was forced to listen to all of the the tracks hoping to guess the order of the songs.
What I found was surely more than I expected.
The Radiators, Cowboy Mouth and Better than Ezra have long been New Orleans hometown favorites, yet have never seemed to consistently manifest the divine confluence of pop lyric and melody.
Prepare yourself for the Subdudes - strange name great sound. You may never be able to find a copy of the Advanced Miracle Mule CD but the commercially available Miracle Mule is still quite exceptional - only missing one song. Reminiscent of the soulful style of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, the Miracle Mule CD gives you a taste of what makes Louisiana musicians more than exceptional.

Update:

I have since collected almost all of the Subdudes releases - Annuciation, Behind the Levee, Poverty & Primitive Streak -and have had the opportunity to hear them play live at Jackson Square in New Orleans.
In my opinion Miracle Mule is their best effort!!!

caslo

After undergoing a bit of a listening hiatis with respect to the Subdudes music (roughly in relation to the groups disbanding), I heard these guys playing live last week on our local PBS radio station (WFUV). They played 3-4 songs from this CD and I could tell from the getgo this was something special. Well, I ran right out that day and bought the CD and was not disappointed. Indeed, its virtually a perfect performance and the recording quality is pretty darn good - - nice and clean ! As one other reviewer said, the first tune is nice, but does not compare with what lies ahead. There is a nice mix of ballads (which are simply gorgeous) and some edgier tunes. All in all, a well balanced CD. I am not a great fan of Accordian, which can IMHO irritate if over done, but on this CD its use is understated, tasteful and melodic. Get the CD, you can't go wrong. My only gripe is I would love to have heard even more background vocal harmonizing, because that on the CD is fantastic.

Anyone who's ever listened to these guys know how fun thier music is to listen to...great harmonies, wonderful jazz/rock/blues instrumentation (with just a hint of zydeco), wonderful free-style innovation. Of all their CD's (all of which are high quality) MIRACLE MULE is my favorite. I think many will agree it's their best. The first cut, "Morning Glory" is a nice start, but doesn't begin to clue the listener in to what lies ahead. The wonderful longings of "If Wishing Made It So" gently stretches the offerings, pulling you in all the more. By then you're hooked. Their mellow pieces, like "Brightest Star" or "The Rain" are so smooth that you want to repeat them over and over. "It's Been Known to Touch Me" is a wonderfully inspirational surprise without being burdonsome. Without covering all the cuts, let's just say the rest is pure fun. By the time you reach cut #13, "Miracle Mule", you're in the mood for this funky little fun-tune, and can forgive them for their tiny bit of self-indulgence...and may even enjoy it! This is a pure masterpiece...if you like the 'dudes, you'll love Miracle Mule.

I've known about these guys for about 10-12 years. After hearing "Angel to Be" during a leisure drive through the red rocks of Arizona, my wife and I rushed out and bought Annunciation.
After hearing that album, their best prior to their break up for my tastes, we had the privilege to see them twice in small venues in New York state. One of the funnest bands ever to rock a chord progression.
Then the break up. A sad turn of events for a fan, but listen to Tommy Malone's Soul Heavy and there was consolation.
When this CD came out, I ordered a pre-release. Subsequently, we saw them yet again, on the Mule tour in Seattle. These guys seem so joyful to be back, and their music is as good, nay, better than ever.
There are a few "throw away" rockers on here (the hidden track , "Miracle Mule" - what were you guys smoking?), but the Subdudes signature tunes are the best yet. Listen to "Known to Touch Me", "The Rain", "Morning Glory", "Brightest Star", heck, just listen to it all.
Music can be a truly joyful experience, and these guys contribute their share to the joyful cause.

OK, so I'm a bit biased. I own every subdudes CD, and have probably seen them live at least six times. With the exception of "Primitive Streak", every one of their previous CDs is worthy of 5 stars. That being said, this may be their best recording yet. As great as their previous CDs were, they never quite captured the amazing musicianship and energy of their live performances. "Miracule Mule" simply nails it. Incredible. Buy this CD - you won't be disappointed.

I have been spreading the word about this fabulous album, and have been remiss in not posting my accolades here sooner. Louis Armstrong once said in an interview with Edward R. Murrow, something to the following effect: "Eddie, there are two types of music in the world. Good music and Bad music. Good music will make you tap your toe." This album is a toe-tapper. And a soul-tapper. And a whole-body-tapper.

Miracle Mule moves me in deeply joyful ways that only music has the power to do, in these rare instances when the music is truly inspired. Buy it. Share it. The world is a far better place with this album touching as many hearts as possible.

Miracle mule is like that wonderful heart warming recipe that only your dear mother can make, that delivers complete bliss. Each song like a new spice that adds to the glow of the album. The broad palette of styles and influences are masterfully chosen and performed purposefully, and passionately, with superb taste, without any feel of being derivative. Along with the vocals, accordion and tambourine, a dash of slide-guitar, a pinch of Wurlitzer, mixed with grooving baselines. For my taste, the only song I am not gushing over is "I'm Angry" (quite ironic). Perhaps then it is only because it pales in comparison to the pantheon of the other compositions.

Finely crafted phrasing. Loving attention to detail. Poetic lyrics. Haunting and goose-bump-raising harmonies. All with no fear to put the pedal to the floor with total abandon.

Spirit-lifting and perfect from the first note. Immediately has become one of my desert-island albums.

It is worth repeating: Buy It. Share It. Spread the word. You will do both the listener and artist a great service. We must support artists that add joy to our lives with treasures like Miracle Mule.

Joni Mitchell once said "you don't know what you've got till its gone". That unfortunately does sum up some of my musical biases. I had taken the Subdudes for granted because we used to see them so much in Colorado. Then they were gone. Boy did I miss them. These guys are some of the most soulful white people I have ever heard. There is not a weak song on this album. I agree with a previous reviewer, this is there best. Support these guys. Keep them playing. Cherish these guys. Reward good singing, good playing , good writing and good people.

This is fun, jaunty music, that will make listeners happy. I heard "Morning Glory" on the Paste Magazine sampler and was compelled to buy this CD. I recommend it for fans of folk/pop/alt.country, etc.

This was my first exposure to The Subdudes. I heard them on an interview on NPR and thought they sounded different -- fun and very talented. This is mature, fun, gotta dance and snap your fingers and sing-a-long music! I'm a fan forever now!