Something Grand [Box set]

Shrimp Boat | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 22, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: AUM FIDELITY
• ASIN: B000244EY2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,797 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Rocks Are Oil

2. Born in a Sour

3. Bumble Bees

4. Collecting Me

5. Only Making Fools

6. Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Hey Buddy, What's Wrong

2. Light Between Your Knees

3. Watched Pot

4. Heart of the City

5. London Dew

6. Wonderful Wonderful

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Motorcade

2. Steam

3. Honeyside

4. Shrimpcore

5. Shoes

6. The Sultan's Eyes

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Joy Knows No Bounderies, September 8, 2004

By 

PopTodd (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Something Grand (Audio CD)

Shrimp Boat are simply the most joyous band on the planet. Or at least they were... they broke up back in 1993 or so, after only three proper albums. So, thank God for this collection!

The chronologically sequenced set spans the band's entire career, starting with their early home-recorded sound experiments (when they could barely play their instruments), and tracking their evolution as they explored and blended virtually every style of music on the planet. From Eastern European folk music, to Zappa-esque freakouts, to Carter family-syle Appalacian folk/country, to free jazz skronking, to Soul and R&B... usually blended seamlessly. Hell, they even do a cover of "Those Were the days" (from All in the family), on the Bonus Album!

The live cuts are particularly vibrant, as the sound of dancing and laughing crowds in the background and the obvious fun the band is having on stage really comes through. I missed seeing SB live, despite being from Chicago myself. It makes me long to go back in time and catch just one show.

Sam Prekop's voice is even more slurred here than it is in The Sea and Cake, but there's no denying its source. And he has yet to play with another guitar player as propulsive and explosive as Ian Schneller could be.

The only reason I am detracting a star at all is because the early experiments, while interesting and good to have in my collection, are not all successful.

Any fan will want this set -- it completes the legacy of one of the greatest bands to ever fly under the radar. For the uninitiated, I would recommend starting with either of their final two albums -- Duende or Cavale. (Both are 5-star recordings, IMO.)