CD Review
Mem Shannon
I'm From Phunkville
(Last Load Records/NorthernBlues Music, c.2005 #NBM0029)
by "Mad Dog" Dave Madlener
Review date: May 2005
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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I wanna listen to Mem Shannon over and over again. This is his fifth release and my first time listening to one of his CD's. This is Mem's first time producing his own music. It's appropriately titled, "I'm from Phunkville", because it is one funky ride. It has a whole lot of great googley mooglie, a bunch of Louisiana hot sauce thrown in and a dash of heartfelt soulful ballads. If you like funk, you will love this because in "Phunkville", ' we don't allow no standin still, and we don't allow no squares, so you must be prepared to move to the groove.' As he sings.!
It has an excellent mix of tracks and switches in tempo in such appropriate measure musical and socially speaking. Mem Shannon has a great voice that can take you from raspy blues to clear listening combines with tune, tone and overtone. The Band ? There ain't no question about the band, these cats have talent out the crawdaddy tail.
It's hard to tell what Mem has in store for the listener after each cut. I gotta tell ya, it's hard to pick out a favorite song, each time I listen to the CD a different song just jumps out and grabs me. Each song lends it self, unselfishly, to a truly great compilation of music that will leave you wanting to hear it again.
I must mention some of the other artists in this. This is not just music it is art. The keys, the bass, the drums, the horns, the guitar and the production, everything just comes together so well. This is Art in the form of music. You like Jazz ? You'll love this. You like Blues? You'll love this. You like funk? You'll love this. You like a touch of Dixieland? You'll find some of that here to. There is even "Eleanor Rigby" for the Beatles fan. Mem jokingly tells his friends that he fixed that song for the Beatles. (It's the best version I've ever heard.)
I think you'll agree after you hear it once, you gotta hear it again. This Mem Shannon fella is a 5 star must have in your collection.
There are 13 cuts, all but 1 are originals written by Mem Shannon. The CD is packaged well with the words to most all the songs on the inside. You can visit their web site at www.memshannon.com
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