Too Many Zooz

This band have been my fave for like the last three months and my love for them has not waned.  You may have seen the viral video on Facebook, of Too Many Zooz's saxophonist and drummer busking on a New York subway platform (if you haven't you need to).  That was where I first encountered them; turns out there's also a trumpet player and two full albums available on Spotify!

Too Many Zooz play music like I've never heard before.  Most of it is instrumental, athough they enlisted a number of guest vocalists to rap on a few tracks on their album Subway Gawdz.  Sometimes they invoke Latin brass music, reminiscent of the Dexter soundtrack; other times you can definitely hear a heavy jazz influence; but the off key trumpet sections and dramatic crescendos make me think more of contemporary drum and bass or dubstep (is dubstep even a thing anymore?).

The earliest album on Spotify, Fanimals, is only six tracks long but not a single one of them is bad.  I love that album so much right now.  I would probably say Subway Gawdz is the slightly more accessible of the two however, since Fanimals is completely instrumental and I think a lot of people find it difficult to get used to a lack of vocals.

Whichever album you're listening to though, it's loud, it's dirty, it's different, it's in your face, and I think it's bloody fantastic.  I can't get enough, and I can't not dance whenever they're playing.  If you're looking for something new to listen to/obsess over, and are willing to approach with an open mind, you should definitely seek out Too Many Zooz.  Ugh, I can't even convey to you how good they are - seriously, go listen to them.

I was so disappointed to find out that I missed their recent live appearances in London by just a couple of months - hopefully they'll come back in the future, I'll be there in a shot.

Saxophonist Leo P also plays in Lucky Chops, who - from what I've heard - play more traditional big band music, similar to the swing-style work from the Cherry Poppin' Daddies.  I haven't made as much of an effort to listen to their stuff to be honest, they sound good but they're just coming from a different place to TMZ.

I'm always interested in discovering bands who offer something new, and Too Many Zooz are the best example of that I've encountered in a long time.

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies

To be honest, the band name may be enough in itself to lure you in - I know it was for me.

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are a versatile bunch; I think it would be fair to say that they mainly stick to the ska genre, but that isn't really my bag. If it is yours however, then by all means check out their recent compilation, Skaboy JFK. Even for someone not that keen on ska, there are some very good songs on there - Hi and Lo is pretty catchy.
 
The Daddies have a useful habit of combining all of their songs which are of a similar style on compilations. The one which I listen to a ridiculous amount is Zoot Suit Riot, which contains most of their swing inspired tunes. And it is fantastic: Steve Perry's swarthy, jaunty voice, combined with high octane drums and about as much brass as you could possibly handle, make for maybe the most fun album I've reviewed here.

This album is musically accomplished but makes it look oh so easy, combining a classic style of crooning with some casual cursing, adult content and often comical lyrics. They just have it all!

Their more recent album, Susquehanna is also excellent, often channeling a more 'flamenco' vibe with a lot of Spanish guitar and frantic beats. Roseanne is a long-standing favourite of mine, filled with passion and emotion and beautiful lyrics, showing yet another string to this group's (if anything, too stringy) bow. The Mongoose and the Snake is another brilliant track on that album, but I can't just sit here listing all of the brilliant songs the Cherry Poppin' Daddies have penned - that would make for a very long and boring article and a tired Spodle.

... well, just one more: the first song I actually heard by CPD was Irish Whiskey which appears on two of their albums, which has much more of a classic rock feel to it, though with some ska elements (depending on which version you listen to - I prefer the Soul Caddy one) and the dizzying momentum and string accompaniment associated with the American Irish tradition of Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys. If you like those bands, I imagine you would like the Cherry Poppin' Daddies - it would be difficult not to find something you like amongst their plethora of different albums and styles.

Gomez

These aren't so obscure, particularly not to me. I was brought up listening to Gomez alongside such greats as Van Morrison and The Eagles; to me they're a classic and therefore it seems like they should be to everyone else.

Gomez are pretty successful, more so in America I believe (a song of theirs features in the movie American Beauty) - but quite a few people aren't aware of their music and  this is a sin, which I am here to rectify.

I'd say their best albums are Liquid Skin and Bring It On, the latter of which contains perhaps their most famous song, Whippin' Piccadilly. They're a British Indie band whose use of electric mixing and sounds mingle with jazz influences to create a unique style, funky and bluesy but also modern.

Ben Ottewell's voice is fantastic; powerful and gravelly - and the variety of voices and instruments they employ along with their imaginative, if occasionally nonsensical lyrics ("open hearted surgery never works" ... except it does, doesn't it lads?), are a joy to listen to. From the soulful sensuality of Rosalita (Liquid Skin) to the bouncy energy of Detroit Swing 66 (In Our Gun) and Get Myself Arrested's pure coolness (Bring It On), Gomez are consistently wonderful.

Check them and their entire back catalogue out, you won't regret it.