The raucous debut album from Bona Roba, entitled "Reach In And Get Her," is 100% balls to the wall rock-n-roll. Drawing off influences from 70s era Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy, and New York Dolls, the band delivers a lo-fi,... more » strut-garage rock album spiked with the attitude of punk and the voltage of a stadium supergroup. Recorded for $1,600, "Reach In And Get Her" is 37+ minutes of sweaty sex. This is lipstick and tight skirts. This is cold beer and backseat love. This is the Friday rock-n-roll party album that turns the night from good to gold. Dance!« less
The raucous debut album from Bona Roba, entitled "Reach In And Get Her," is 100% balls to the wall rock-n-roll. Drawing off influences from 70s era Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy, and New York Dolls, the band delivers a lo-fi, strut-garage rock album spiked with the attitude of punk and the voltage of a stadium supergroup. Recorded for $1,600, "Reach In And Get Her" is 37+ minutes of sweaty sex. This is lipstick and tight skirts. This is cold beer and backseat love. This is the Friday rock-n-roll party album that turns the night from good to gold. Dance!
CD Reviews
Put on your high heel sneakers, it's party time
Salle-boy | 05/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With the arrival of the White Stripes, a bunch of new "boy bands" emerged. Among them, The Strokes and The Hives were the most highly touted by adoring critics. While the Stripes remain a relevant band, the Strokes and the Hives are yesterday's medical maladies. Tomorrow's news is Bona Roba. I saw them on MTV in Little Steven's battle of the bands contest. These guys simply kick ass. It's rock and roll the way it was meant to be played, lowdown and dirty. It figures that the best NY band since Velvet Underground hails from Queens. If you're looking for melodic, hook-laden music with great vocals and the in your face attitude of the early Stones, look no further."
Bona Roba - Reach in and Get Her
Jamey Hadden | 07/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Future of Rock and Roll: Bona Roba
Bona Roba's debut album is the necessary soundtrack for a Rock and Roll lifestyle. A well deserved remedy and wake up call for the current dismal direction that some music is headed towards - safe singles. The antithesis of Walmart friendly and over-produced single jingles, "Reach in and Get Her" is one solid album laid down by the salt of the earth future star band Bona Roba. Hailing from Queens NYC, one's memory must bring to mind two great band exports from this borough- The Ramones and Anthrax. Bona Roba sound nothing like their neighbors but bring the same signature raw enthusiasm and well crafted cutting lyrics piercing straight to the eardrum and into beating hearts and minds that rock.
Each track has rock swagger that cannot be ignored, my foot still taps hours later after each listen. The band itself is a force to be reckoned with at live shows and their energy punches through on the album. A true "album", this gem changes pace and tempo to create a decadent rock and roll playground. Bona Roba's "Reach in and Get Her" is a complete package of juke box anthems that run the "soundtrack of our lives" gamut from full moon lunacy to the appreciation of a rising red hot sun.
Bona Roba was a finalist on Little Steven's Underground Garage competition and Little Steven of the E-Street band knows his music, this is the man you want to program your iPod for an extended road trip.
Neal Carlson the lead singer of Bona Roba recently appeared as a contestant on the reality show Rockstar INXS. According to INXS, Neal was not right for their band INXS. According to this reviewer, Neal is more than right for the future of Rock and Roll and that band is Bona Roba.
Bona Roba is:
Philip Bianco as "Philip Sesso" on bass/vox
Luc Carl on drums
Neal Carlson as "Neal LaFanta" on vox/guitar
Louis Koster as "Domino Abbracciamento" on guitar
Reviewed by Jamey Hadden as "The Lion""
The Resurrection of Rock
DKeener | Chattanooga, TN | 08/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm somewhat ashamed of how I found out about this band...but thank God I did.
I saw Neal Carlson (aka Neal LaFanta) on Rock Star:INXS and he was far and away my favorite rocker on there. I got lucky and saw on the Rock Star website that Neal was in a band called Bona Roba. I went to their website and listened to the clips there. I was impressed enough to buy the cd then and there. I was salivating over The Slip and Cunningham Park while I waited for the cd to come, hoping they weren't the bright points on an otherwise dim album. I assure you they're not. This is great stuff...not a bad track on the whole disc. I like The Killers and Bright Eyes and Kasabian and some of the other new "rock" bands...but this is the real thing people. This isn't the "modern rock" or whatever that stuff is...this is pure, unadulterated Rock n Roll. The way it used to be and the way it should be...And it's about time."
This is New York's best rock-n-roll band!
rnrchick | New York, NY | 07/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been lucky enough to catch these guys playing small clubs in NY and they are leaps and bounds above anything else going on in the musc world, they are real dirty rock and roll and deserve all of the fame they are destined to receive, do yourself a favor and buy this record right away. And try and see them play before they hit madison square garden...this is the futrure of rock and rol...thank goodness!"
Total, Happy Surprise!
Alan Heaton | Doylestown, PA | 01/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was a hugely pleasant surprise for me. I found this CD while looking for stuff by singers on "Rock Star: INXS". This is "Neil Carlson's" CD (I think he's called "Neil Fontana" on this CD), and it's a great CD. If you like the Rolling Stones at all (and I only like them a little), you may well love this CD. The whole disc pulsates with Stones-y energy. I love the mellow "Playing Records", but there are many other standout tracks, including "In the Cut,", "Cunningham Park," and "Hollywood Blood." If the Stones still rocked like this, I'd start buying their CDs."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1