Search - Royal Fingerbowl :: Greyhound Afternoons

One of the Greatest Albums Ever Made

An Any Mouse | New Orleans, LA USA | 10/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"AS an authority on such matters, I feel it is my duty to portray my feeling about this particular album to the buying public. Firstly, Alex McMurray is a genius of a guitar player, an unrivaled songwriter, has the voice of an angel (if the angel smoked two packs per day and drank like a fish), and is all around a sweet guy - and ladies, he's single. Secondly, The drumming of Mr. Carlo Nucio is superb in the slack, laid back New Orleans style. The productiong, performed by Fred Flames of Chez Flames Studios is nearly flawless. All in all this is one of the best records I've heard in quite some time, and if you ever get the chance catch Royal Fingerbowl live in New Orleans. At times they have their show biz schtick polished to perfection, and other times the breakdown in a low, dirty fashion reminiscent of the late, great Cream."

White Voodoo

James Carragher | New York | 11/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"No listener will ever mistake this CD as something coming out of laid-back Southern California or alt country land like Minneapolis or Austin. Greyhound Afternoons reeks of swamp and New Orleans. Take one large helping of The Big Easy (Royal Fingerbowl even sounds like Dennis Quaid on the ballad Echoes in My Mind), one huge helping of Tom Waits' vocal style (see especially Mr. Corn), some Dr. John (off-beat instrumentation, guttural singing), some Lyle Lovett (for the same generous feel for long-lived love and lyric skill -- see Long, Tall, Cool), and finally just a dash of Randy Newman (for ironic nastiness, e.g. Bad Apples -- they really are -- and No Man is an Island), mix it all up together and you get Royal Fingerbowl. There's musical variety, good stories and, most of all, heat and humidity on this CD. It just sticks to you and won't let go."