Red White & Black

Bellrays | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 18, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alternative Tentacles
• ASIN: B00061QJJO
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,766 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The BellRays turn in another batch of searing soul-punk moments on Red, White and Black. While they're led by the throaty, nearly unchecked vocal rip of Lisa Kekaula -- whose vocals seem to ricochet off the considerable chip on her shoulder -- the other spectacular thing about this record is Tony Fate's absolutely amazing clutch of guitar tones. His rig is urgent Thin Lizzy/Kiss sludge on the mellow menace of "Used to Be," but it crackles with immediacy for the bristling Detroit-style rocker "Street Corner," or during the mid-album standout "Sister Disaster." The BellRays hit everything on time (including your jaw), which gives even their more workmanlike moments an enviable zing. A turn toward squelchy, angry, and wildly shifting punk rock poetry on "Poison Arrow" works Black Flag-wonders in Kekaula's hands -- in another's it would simply be overwrought. Let's say it again: she's an absolutely amazing vocalist, checking everyone from Arthur Lee and Tina Turner to Mick Collins, whose band the Dirtbombs are fellow travelers of the BellRays. "You're Sorry Now" brings in some backing vocals for its freaked-out, '60s garage revivalism; its melody returns later in the album for a brooding piano revisit. Late in the album, "Voodoo Train" busts through the station wall. Its extended beginning is like the thrum of a faraway locomotive, before Kekaula lays it down -- "Well I feel like Satan and I'll tell you why" -- and the thing lurches into bluesy, punky overdrive. It might be the strongest thing on the record, since it effortlessly combines the past and present, anger and love, rousing vocals and roundhouse-rattling electric guitar. Is that blood on your lip? You must've bit through it a few songs ago. [Red, White and Black came complete with six additional, downloadable tracks, the better to make your computer bleed, too.] ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars of talent, but for want of a "hit single", a "4", February 16, 2005

By 

Bill Stella "Bill Realman Stella" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Red White & Black (Audio CD)

Ohmigod! How did I *live* without hearing this band before? I've learned their debut album was released in 1998. They've been through recent personnel changes, and this must be the re-energized result. Lisa Kekaula dominates with her lead vocals. Others have compared her to Tina Turner. I love Tina, but I hear Lisa as a cross between Cassandra Wilson if she led an all-out rock & soul band, and a savvier, older Janis Joplin who could give her all AND take care of her voice.

After spinning the disk my first time, I collared other DJs at WRSU (88.7 FM, New Brunswick NJ, live stream at wrsu.org) and we had a field day, comparing The BellRays to everyone from Humble Pie, Jefferson Airplane and Cream to an MC5 influenced by post-Bop jazz.

As you may imagine, the performances are blazing and memorable, evoking many influences but not aping anything too closely. This is re-invention, not invention, but the band injects plenty of their own personalities, and what could seem retro instead is as invigorating as fresh-brewed coffee. The one missing element is a killer song or three, material an audience could identify with the band, the "hit single" their talent deserves. In my fantasy for the BellRays' success, they write or find a song which, like "Private Dancer" or "Somebody To Love", kick re-starts their career.

If intrigued, you know you need to listen for yourself.

Thanks to fellow San Francisco Bay area musical mainstays Jello Biafra and his Alternative Tentacles label for apparently rescuing this album from import-only status.

See Best of the Year reviews for 1999 thru 2005 in my "So You Want to Know...?" guides.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what an atomic punk & soul revolution sounds like..., August 3, 2007

By 

Donald B. Payjack (Calgary, AB Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Red White & Black (Audio CD)

This CD will blow your speakers and your mind at the same time... intense fuzz-face guitars, over-the-top fervant black soul preaching by one of the best female singers in the world and a pace that just will not back down. One of the few bands who can be legitimately compared to the MC5 in terms of intesity... every time I listen to this CD I want to click it off and go firebomb the man!! (and you will too!)