Search - Rubberneck :: Ego Manic

Um, the songs listed here aren't on this album...?

Kevin Rienecker | Portland, OR USA | 06/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, well. So even the mighty retail megalith that is Amazon.com can goof up. Just a warning - none of the tracks listed here are songs from this band, or this CD...!?!



Rubberneck is a latin-guitar flavored funk/soul group featuring heavy bass grooves and sly horn accompanyment (Imagine Carlos Santana crossed with Maceo Parker with a nod toward George Clinton and Sly Stone, and you've got the idea). The band, fronted by the amazing Ochoa brothers, hails from Portland, Oregon; originally a quasi-dance band that started out back in the early '90's when the boys were wee, fresh-faced lads right out of high school. Playing in grungy local clubs like the Satyricon and the X-Ray Cafe along with other great local bands like Drunk At Abi's and Hazel, Rubberneck managed to avoid the implosion of Portland's (once) thriving music scene by bolting town and playing gigs all over for the dance-starved. They eventually drew some label interest, and finally, cut an album deal; their first CD, Nosotros, was produced by none other than the legendary Stevie Wonder.



For my money, Rubberneck is still a band to be experienced live. Their CD's - however good - keep getting better, but just don't capture the flavor of their live performances or present the band at their bootie-shakin' best. That being said, Ego Manic is their slickest, most consistent album to date, taking a step further away from the gritty El Nino and sliding right on into the bands funkier side. The first three songs are the best music they've ever recorded, and the rest of the album isn't far off.



Go ahead and buy a copy of this, or one of their other albums. If you need more convincing, check out the reviews for Nosotros and El Nino (which has samples of the RIGHT SONGS...songs from THIS BAND!), or find a sample on iTunes. You'll be glad you did.



Oh yeah - if you ever get a chance to see the band live, don't miss 'em!"