Street Symphony

The Subdudes | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 28, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Back Porch
• ASIN: B000SUKPQQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,221 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Someday this group's going to take their place alongside the Nevilles in Nawlins music history, September 2, 2007

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Street Symphony (Audio CD)

The Subdudes are one of Nawlins' best-kept secrets. They've been making music for the past twenty years. With each CD, I keep expecting a big hit. Perhaps "Street Symphony" is the one.

The music's good solid basic rock with a bluesy jazz flair. This group believes in keeping it light enough to travel and they could just as easily set up on the corner as Carnegie Hall. In live sets, none of the band members will play anything that they cannot carry onto the stage themselves. The drummer plays a tambourine set and the keyboardist totes an accordion. By the way, they're impressive, straightforward, and more fun than I've had at almost any live venue. If you have a chance to see them, don't miss out. Their shows are well worth the time.

Their songs are often stories, like some of the best folk-rockers. I got caught up in the uplifting ones from prior albums, notably "Miracle Mule". This collection in general is a bit less lighthearted than prior ones.

The group opens up with a rocker in "Fountain of Youth," which is offers a pretty succinct description of many of us:

Take your pills
Take your time
You can take your pulse and see if you've died
You can hide your thoughts
You can hide your gold
You can hide your heart
But you can't hide old

There's more reflection than just the opener, though. "Street Symphony" is the first CD the Louisiana natives have produced since Katrina ravaged their homes.

"Poor Man's Paradise" is the publicized single for this CD and details the homelessness and poverty among the people still left there and how the folks are doing their best to make it out all right.

"Thorn in her Side" is probably the strongest protest on the album.

Money and blood spillin' on the sand
Plantin' our flag in someone else's land
What about the people for which it stands
How about takin' care of our own
Like the people down South
Drownin' in their homes?

"Work Clothes On" talks about responsibility. The temptation to play hooky from work and go fishin' leads to unpaid bills and eventually his work clothes are an orange prison jumper.

The remainder of the CD all has messages, beautifully written and performed. If you haven't heard them, give the Subdudes a try. If you liked their prior releases, you will more than likely enjoy this one as well.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sound and Vision Mag says best CD of the Century, September 24, 2007

By 

C. VanDoren "chris_v" (Albany NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Street Symphony (Audio CD)

Sound and vision mag (used to be Stereo Review way back...) gave this CD a Sound and Vision "Reference CD" stamp which is pretty rare and high praise. But in case that was not enough the reviewer said that for all the reasons listed in his review he thought this was the best CD yet of this century. The review should be listed at their web site in a few weeks so you can check it out yourself.

I will echo the other reviewers who said this is a live show not to be missed. Speaking of reviews, our local paper (Schenectady NY) said their show was the best concert of the year and I agree.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More great music!, September 5, 2007

By 

Fred Coleman "dudehead" (VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Street Symphony (Audio CD)

If you know this band, you will love the new album. If you don't know this band, you will love the new album. Yeah, I'm a big fan, but I listen to lots of music and this is some of the best around. Thoughtful lyrics, great tunes, and some of the best harmony goin'. These guys are exceptional in concert and play all over the country. Hopefully, you'll get to hear them. They are gracious enough to talk and sign CDs, clothes, whatever after a show. They are down to earth people, not pretentious "stars". Spread the word. Peace.