You may know Brian Marchese primarily as a crackerjack skinsman extraordinaire but what you may not know is that the left-handed timekeeper sets up his set as any garden variety right-handed Ringo would but opts out of the traditional crossover method of trapsmanship, freeing his arms to thrash in all directions. And if you’ve seen this little drummer boy in action, chances are your ears have taken a lashin’ from his thrashin’.
Additionally, Marchese plays right-handed guitars but flips them upside-down and strums the strings from the bottom up. These unorthodox methods symbolically reflect what you’ll discover on his latest CD, “Polite”: Marchese’s penchant for lyrical left turns and the left-of-center leading chords that lure the listener, lurching them into left-field. It’s just Manny being Manny. Marchese being Marchese (like a fox).
All alliteration aside (assonance is still on tap, though, I see- Ed.), this southpaw’s sophomore solo set is comprised of ten expeditions into a slightly trippy terrain of pop/rock. Opener “Branch Out” happily weds two late 60s cultural archrivals as a smart Lou Reed-y lyric is intoned above a bouncy Dead-like groove. East Coast/West Coast. Meanwhile, “Riding to the Rhyme” transports nubby 80s synths to The Essex Green, those Elephant 6 stalwarts known for curling the millennium. Best yet, the angsty, angular guitar riff of “Saltwater Cherub” is delivered Dick Dale-style, with the surf-rock spray splashing over a cascading clap-happy cheerleadery spirit that wouldn’t be out of place on a Raspberries platter. By no means am I suggesting this delightful disc is derivative, only that Marchese’s good taste in influences enhances everything you hear here. Nice job.
Track Listing:
1. Branch Out
2. Mediocre Meteor
3. Riding to the Rhyme
4. Green and Fur
5. People On Trains
6. Since Coincidence Died
7. Skipping to the End
8. Saltwater Cherub
9. Amanda's Ready For Spring
10.They Become It
Credits:
Brian Marchese: drums, percussion lead vocals 1-10; guitar 1,2,5,6,7,8; arp 5; alto saxophone 3; handclaps 8; noise 2
Henning Ohlenbusch: guitar 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10; bass 6, 8; keyboards 1, 5, 6; vocals 1, 2, 9; handclaps 8; noise 2
Ken Maiuri: keyboards 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10; bass 3, 9; vocals 1, 2, 8; handclaps 8
Rick Murnane: guitar 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10; voice 1, 2
Trace Meek: bass 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10; voice 1, 2
Lesa Bezo: voice 9; handclaps 8
Jason Bourgeois: guitar 5; voice 1, 2
Dennis Crommett: guitar 4, 8
Kevin O'Rourke: voice 4
Tony Westcott: handclaps 8
all songs by Brian Marchese copyright 2007 Shower Caddy Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Henning Ohlenbusch and Brian Marchese
Engineered by Henning Ohlenbusch
Recorded and Mixed at Rub Wrongways Studios November 2005-May 2007
Mastered by Dan Richardson at Up in the Basement
Additionally, Marchese plays right-handed guitars but flips them upside-down and strums the strings from the bottom up. These unorthodox methods symbolically reflect what you’ll discover on his latest CD, “Polite”: Marchese’s penchant for lyrical left turns and the left-of-center leading chords that lure the listener, lurching them into left-field. It’s just Manny being Manny. Marchese being Marchese (like a fox).
All alliteration aside (assonance is still on tap, though, I see- Ed.), this southpaw’s sophomore solo set is comprised of ten expeditions into a slightly trippy terrain of pop/rock. Opener “Branch Out” happily weds two late 60s cultural archrivals as a smart Lou Reed-y lyric is intoned above a bouncy Dead-like groove. East Coast/West Coast. Meanwhile, “Riding to the Rhyme” transports nubby 80s synths to The Essex Green, those Elephant 6 stalwarts known for curling the millennium. Best yet, the angsty, angular guitar riff of “Saltwater Cherub” is delivered Dick Dale-style, with the surf-rock spray splashing over a cascading clap-happy cheerleadery spirit that wouldn’t be out of place on a Raspberries platter. By no means am I suggesting this delightful disc is derivative, only that Marchese’s good taste in influences enhances everything you hear here. Nice job.
Track Listing:
1. Branch Out
2. Mediocre Meteor
3. Riding to the Rhyme
4. Green and Fur
5. People On Trains
6. Since Coincidence Died
7. Skipping to the End
8. Saltwater Cherub
9. Amanda's Ready For Spring
10.They Become It
Credits:
Brian Marchese: drums, percussion lead vocals 1-10; guitar 1,2,5,6,7,8; arp 5; alto saxophone 3; handclaps 8; noise 2
Henning Ohlenbusch: guitar 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10; bass 6, 8; keyboards 1, 5, 6; vocals 1, 2, 9; handclaps 8; noise 2
Ken Maiuri: keyboards 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10; bass 3, 9; vocals 1, 2, 8; handclaps 8
Rick Murnane: guitar 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10; voice 1, 2
Trace Meek: bass 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10; voice 1, 2
Lesa Bezo: voice 9; handclaps 8
Jason Bourgeois: guitar 5; voice 1, 2
Dennis Crommett: guitar 4, 8
Kevin O'Rourke: voice 4
Tony Westcott: handclaps 8
all songs by Brian Marchese copyright 2007 Shower Caddy Music (ASCAP)
Produced by Henning Ohlenbusch and Brian Marchese
Engineered by Henning Ohlenbusch
Recorded and Mixed at Rub Wrongways Studios November 2005-May 2007
Mastered by Dan Richardson at Up in the Basement