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As their career progresses, the Mavericks are becoming more of a showcase for vocalist/frontman Raul Malo, both for better and for worse. They may be losing their band identity, but that may have been inevitable, considering that Malo is such a gifted, powerful musician. He is the driving force behind all of the group's stylistic fusions, their blend of honky tonk with country-rock, classic rock & roll, pop, and Latin. On Music for All Occasions, the stylistic blends sounded a little gimmicky, but the band sounds revitalized on Trampoline -- even the vaudevillian "Dolores" rings as true as the shuffling, cha-cha "I Should Know." If anything, the album is the least "country" album the Mavericks have ever done, but that's primarily because all of their influences have blended seamlessly together, creating an original, altogether intoxicating sound. Furthermore, they're not simply surface -- Malo's songs are clever constructions, ranking among the most imaginative roots songwriting of the '90s. His writing, combined with his band's musical panache, makes Trampoline a ride worth taking. ~ Thom Owens
Recording information: Ocean Way Recording Studios, Nashville, TN.
Photographer: Jim Herrington.
Unknown Contributor Role: Mark Casstevens.
Arranger: Dennis Burnside.
Personnel: Raul Malo (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gut-string guitar, electric sitar, alto horn, piano, 6-string bass, drums, background vocals); Nick Kane (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, bass guitar); Mark Casstevens (guitar, acoustic guitar, gut-string guitar, banjo); James House (acoustic guitar); Paul Deakin (electric guitar, drums); Richard Bennett (requinto); Connie Ellisor, Karen Winkelmann, Randall Olson, Joann Cruthirds, Betty Small, John Catchings, Kristin Wilkinson, Antoine Silverman, Jim Grosjean, Mary Kathryn Van Osdale, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Bob Mason , Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead, Catherine Umstead, Gary VanOsdale (strings); Denis Solee (flute, clarinet, saxophone, horns); Sam Levine (flute, saxophone, horns); Jeff Coffin, Don Jackson (saxophone, horns); Jim Williamson, George Tidwell (trumpet, horns); Chris Dunn, Dennis Good (trombone, horns); Dennis Burnside (alto horn, piano); Jerry Dale McFadden (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, background vocals); Dane Bryant (piano); Farrell Morris (vibraphone, percussion); Robert Reynolds (acoustic bass, electric bass, background vocals); David Hungate (upright bass); Glen Caruba (percussion); Robert Bailey, Jr. , Vicki Hampton, Kim Fleming (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Mike Bradley.
Rolling Stone (4/2/98, p.73) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...while TRAMPOLINE finds the Mavericks dishing out breezy, lovelorn melodies, they're also sneaking a lot of genuinely eclectic weirdness past....a pop-orchestral blowout the likes of which hasn't been heard since Orbison's days on the Monument label..." Entertainment Weekly (5/8/98, p.77) - "On their expansive fifth album, these Nashville iconoclasts fuse a myriad of unlikely stylistic elements into a satisfying whole....frontman Raul Malo['s]...majestic tenor...[and] emotional depth matches his band's skillful eclecticism." - Rating: A-
20th Century Masters The Best of the Maverics Having only the Experience of the 1998 "Trampoline," to go by the "Best of..." collection is more of the same. Including "Dance the Night Away."
That means for someone looking for other than the run-of-the-mill CW this band and its lead singer Raul Malo provide something different. Here different is good.
Their sound shows the influence of many styles and the blend is to be enjoyed rather than trying to pigeon-hole where it belongs. These players are professional, competent, and ingenuity of the backup needs to be heard. The voice of Raul Malo is one of the more interesting among current male, non-classical and non-rap/ hip-hop music. You can understand his words and he conveys and authentic meaning to the emotions each song conveys. Two covers, one, Springsteen's "All That Heaven Will Allow," and Richard Rogers-Lorenz Hart's "Blue Moon," fit nicely in the other eight by Raul Malo and other writers.
This is a good collection on Maverick performances and well fit in a Millenium collection. Submitted by a reviewer (MidAtlantic, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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