Brian Orchestra Setzer - Wolfgangs Big Night Out (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Classical Tunes with a Twist

H. Holland | USA | 10/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well Guys and Dolls, throw the ballet slippers in the corner, and push the easy listening chair out of the way...this classical music has been Dixie-fried and Setzer-ized! This ain't your grandma's classical music, it's high-octane, get up outta your chair, gotta dance classical with a twist of swing and rockabilly.

From the opening track of "Take The 5th", to "Take a Break Guys", WBNO is a fine example of the musical talents of the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Brian's guitar playing is crisp and clear, showcasing his ability, and confirming that he is indeed one of the best guitar slingers of today. The orchestra sounds incredibly tight, and the famous Setzer-style rings true. The vocal tracks on "One More Night With You" and "Honey Man" fit nicely, and compliment the arrangements in a fun, unexpected way. "Honey Man" is one of my favorite tracks on this album, simply because it brings me back to childhood days of watching Batman on TV. Brian's lightning fast fret work, combined with the intensity and urgency of the Vixens vocals, transports me right into the middle one of my beloved superhero's fight scenes...Bam! Crash! Kerpow!

"Sabre Dance" makes me want to drink a whole pot of caffeinated coffee, and take the hot rod out for a spin. Drive fast and frantically through traffic, slow down and take a breather (behind a semi that I can't pass), then pull out into oncoming traffic and start the craziness all over again.

"For Lisa" is a pleasant surprise. I like the introduction of a violin to the orchestra mix. The compliment between clarinet, violin and guitar really give this song a Dixieland jazz feel, something I didn't expect from a Beethoven composition.

"Here Comes the Broad" makes me want to get married again (to my wonderful hubby). It's a fun, flashy, bright lights, Vegas-y kind of a tune that should grace the play list at any respectable wedding reception. What a cool tune to introduce the happy couple!

Many other musical adventures wait within the remaining tracks on the album. Keep your ears peeled while listening...there are lots of buried treasures within the different songs. Little riffs and such that you are sure to recognize and bring a grin to your face. So, what are you waiting for? Put on your creepers, grease up your pomp, and grab your Gretsch air-guitar... BSO fans, young and old, will not be disappointed in this new release.

Wolfgang's Big Night Out...this cat's outta the bag.

"

Brian and his classical brass!

G. Ubardelli | 10/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This time around, Brian Setzer and his orchestra are trying something different. On his latest cd, Wolfgang's Big Night Out, Brian gives classical a try putting it to the sound of swing. Only two of the songs have vocals, One More Night With You and Honey Man. You will be familiar with most, if not all of the songs here, believe it or not, but you now get to hear them done Setzer style. There are plenty of guitar highlights. Check out Sabre Dance and Honey Man for some blazing guitar. Like acoustic? Listen to For Lisa, where you also get violin and clarinet. For some rock style guitar, go for Take A Break Guys. There's even a little bit of banjo in Yes We Can Can. Don't forget about all of those horns, either. They're a kick!

Personal favorites-Sabre Dance (frantic!), Yes We Can Can (peppy, peppy, peppy) and Take A Break Guys (Brian's playing reminds me of some early 70's style rock~that's kinda sexy!). Those are my top faves, but the entire album is a blast!"

Excellent!

My Opinion | 09/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE this CD! Amazing playing, amazing arrangements, amazing recording quality, great energy-- absolutely excellent on every level. Brilliant. I might come back later and get more specific about the individual tracks but for now I don't want to blow any surprises for anybody. Just pick it up, put it on and let the whole thing play. Not a bad track on here."

Too Good For Words, But I Will Try

Steven Eric Coon | tulsa, ok United States | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, I have everything that Brian has ever put out. I could not wait until this came out, and was it ever worth the wait. Like the first reviewer has said, there is not a bad track. I can't describe in words how good this is. Every time I play this through it just gets better and better. I can't come up with a favorite because they are all so good. As usual the king of the guitar is at a level other guitar players only dream about. Each song is a masterpiece. If you have heard this band play the Nutcracker Suite and MY Favorite Things, get ready for twelve such epic songs. Brian absolutely blazes during Sabre Dance and Honey Man and I mean BLAZES. I could go on about every song, but it would be the same which is SENSATIONAL. This cd should go down as one of the all time greats, I can't imagine any one 10-100 years old not loving this. I will wrap this up by saying, this will be some of the best money you will ever spend. Buy this with confidence!!!!!"

A wonderful sound worth checking out

Chad A. Koenig | Ballston Spa, NY | 10/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a long time Setzer/ Stray Cats fan, I was skeptical about wether or not a classical album by a band known for recreating songs by Louis Prima, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and the like. There's no question that Setzer likes to take the unorthodox route when releasing his music as it almost NEVER fits into the mainstream. But that's OK. That's what put his bands on the map over the years and this round is no different.

First, ;et me tell you how well that this album is mixed and mastered. In this day and age of everybody wanting to make a quick buck- throwing together any form of rubbish to make a hit that will be forgotten in 6 months, we lose sight of how an album is constructed and the "rare care" that goes into making a great album. That task does not fall solely in the hands of the artists, but the producers and studio engineers. This is not a bad note on this album. The engineers and producers made this album sound as brilliant as anything that I have heard in quite some time. I might even go out on a limb to say that this is the most well- produced album of Setzer's career.

Now for the material- a group of popular classical numbers redone and renamed to fit the swingin' side of the Orchestra. "Take the 5th" is a pleasant surprise and should be compared side by side with the remake of Beethoven's 5th released by the Trans- Siberian Orchestra. Both sounding surprisingly fresh and different but not enough to bore whcih is what I was afraid of. "Honey Man" is a great take on "Flight of the Bumblebee". On this instrumental- heavy album, you have to check out the updated versions of "Sabre Dance" and "1812 Overture", renamed the "1812 Overdrive". This album makes it OK for you to blast out Tchaikovsky out of your 1949 Ford.

For those of you who have enjoyed the last 2 Christmas albums by the Orchestra, you will like this as it can easily be played on shuffle with any of your holiday favorites, albeit this is NOT a holiday album.

All and all this is a great album. The photo on the back of the album depicting the late greats of the classical eras sitting at a bar with the Newcastle tap showing plainly is worth a good laugh and this album is worth a pick-up. If you are expecting a commercial success like "The Dirty Boogie", then don't bother. If you want to hear skilled musicians and instrumentalists giving a different take on a genre that only Setzer would think to do this to, and at the same time be listenable, then look no further.

Chad Koenig"

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