Track Listing

1. Fountain Of Youth
2. Poor Man's Paradise
3. Stranger
4. Thorn In Her Side
5. No Man
6. Fair Weather Friend
7. Brother Man
8. Half Of the Story
9. Work Clothes
10. Absolutely
11. I'm In Your Town
12. Street Symphony

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2185 in Music
• Released on: 2007-08-28
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Despite the title of the New Orleans-based Subdudes' previous album, Behind the Levee was recorded pre-Katrina. A lot of water has passed under the bridge--literally and figuratively--since then, which impacts the sound of the band's first post-hurricane release. Although the reformed group's approach has always tempered upbeat material with a darker, more soulful edge, their sixth studio release, Street Symphony, exudes a heightened mood of bittersweet melancholy. Even Steve Amedee's ever-present tambourine seems to be less frisky as the disc unwinds at its own rather subdued (no pun intended) pace. Lead vocalist/songwriter Tommy Malone has seldom sounded more committed, wrapping his dusky voice around a vibrant set of originals with lyrics that occasionally reference New Orleans' most horrific experience. Songs such as "I'm Your Town" ("who's going to save me?") and the deceptively jaunty melody of "Poor Man's Paradise"--the story of an impoverished, homeless man whose appreciation of life's little things, like the music of Fats Domino, gets him through impossibly difficult times--impart a solemn but hopeful acceptance. The "her" in "Thorn in Her Side" refers to the Statue of Liberty, as John Magnie's accordion adds unusual sorrow to Malone's controlled anger. The beautifully bluesy "No Man" is arguably Malone's most revelatory and touching love song, performed with the proud resignation that courses through every track of this heartfelt, thought-provoking, and emotionally moving set. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews

Bringing beauty into the world one lyric at a time
My wife and I have been avid listeners to the subdudes for quite a few years. We've heard their early highs (Annunciation) and lows (Primitive Streak for our tastes).

When these guys reformed after several years apart, we waited to hear what they had to offer after the long hiatus. Miracle Mule (their reunion first) was a fine album, ditto for Behind the Levee.

This CD, THIS CD, goes somewhere else entirely and it's bigger, better and more beautiful than anything so far.

The start is a hard rocker like many they've done before, not a timeless wonder but a good start. Second comes "Poor Man's Paradise" and the fun has truly begun. This is the first of several songs referring to life in their beloved New Orleans - post Katrina, post the disappointment of the failure of America to meet the needs of its own. But it's a song of celebration. "Doing alright, in our poor man's paradise" celebrates both the allusion to the fishing shacks that house many of the poor after the devastation, and the impoverished town itself. And it makes you smile.

As the album progresses, we get to "Thorn In Her Side" the subdudes' most political statement since "One Word (Peace)" and it is a fastball straight down the middle - "What about takin' care of our own, like the people down south, drowning in their homes; guess my God and your God don't see eye to eye".

So much more on this set is surpassing in lyrics, melody or both, but 2 more are at least worth mentioning.

"No Man" is simply one of the most gorgeous love songs, followed by one of the most rippin' solos in recent memory. If you have EVER been truly loved, this song will move you to love yet more deeply. It is a statement of what it means to care.

"Street Symphony" the title cut, is the close to the album and a great song of beauty and joy. There's lots of space in this song, the musicians let the song come to them slowly and let chords and harmonies ring. If you don't find yourself singing this song out loud when you're finished listening to this CD, you've probably had too much to drink (or maybe not enough). Either way, you're missing an incredible celebration.

If you don't know these guys, you NEED to hear this CD. It is a geniune work of art.

I dare you not to feel good after listening
These guys are the most under rated band I know. Most people I know never even heard of them. I heard a couple of their songs that a local New York collage station (WFUV) plays and really liked them, Saw them live at a small venue (BB KINGS) and was blown away. since then I have bought theree of their cds and have seen them again. This cd is their newest and representative of their sound as good as any of their other cds. Great harmonies,Great musicians,Great live show....Highly recomended.........

It's All Good
I had only heard one track off this CD when I bought it. It's a really nice feeling when you play a CD for the first time and EVERY track is as good or better than the one that prompted you to buy it in the first place. The only thing missing was the oyster po boy.