The Delta Routine

“Donna” is the first full length album of The Delta Routine, released January 19, 2008. The voice of lead singer, Nick Amadeus hits you first. It’s strong, raw, and full of body. That voice is the backbone to the primative lryics of the album. Amadeus does old school rock as if it were 1967 for the first time. His voice is rough, pure, and fresh while the drums, bass, and guitar echo the sound of classic rock and emerging punk when both were still connected to blues.
The title song “Donna” is highly sexual, and old school. It’s chorus “Hey there Donna let me get next to you. Hey there Donna you never know what you do” is the anthem of the sex starved man/child. This is sexual drive is even more apparent with the song “Sink In.” It leaves nothing to the imagination.
But I’m not saying the song writing doesn’t work. It fits the simple, straight forward guitar licks. Early punk and rock was all about keeping the sound simple. The appeal of the Kinks “You Really Got Me Now” it’s simple and pure emotion that oozes out without thought or pretense. Part of the appeal of The Stooges and The Ramons lies in their simple lyrics and rough instrumentation. The Delta Routine has that same energy. The difference is that now that energy is accepted by the masses where once it was maligned. One can only hope that The Delta Routine will build on this early sound, bringing it up to speed by dipping more into their own voice and their own time.
Evan Paydon on bass and Kyle Ciske on drums round out the Milwaukee based band that’s currently playing around Wisconsin promoting their new album produce by Mike Hoffmann. Besides “Donna” two standout tunes are “Little Truth” and “Now You Know.”

The Color of Sound:Santigold

We’re moving into a new era in music, or so it seems. The culture of black music is expanding in a new direction once again with artists such as Santigold who reference more than just R&B, Soul, or Hip Hop. These forms still have their influence, but now there’s suddenly room for New Wave, and Alternative Rock. What it means to do “black music” is no longer fixed or clear. But what if the black female voice shifts away from its roots? What then? Is it good, bad, or neither? What’s genuinely black? Does it matter anymore. We have a biracial president. Hip Hop is influencing kids all over the world not just in places black people live. And Hip Hop is adaptable to any culture.
I’m drawn Santigold not only because I like her music. She’s of my generation. A generation of black listeners who are willing to admit to liking “white music.” She even gives a nod to the Pixies in her video of “Lights Out.” I thought I was the only black person in the world who even knew they ever existed.



The examples of white artists influenced by black culture haven’t stopped coming. From the beginnings of slavery white musicians have borrowed heavily from black culture. Black music has been at the heart of music in America and inspiration for white musicians abroad. But the borrowing comes with some backlash. Black British soul singer Estelle complained that white British singers such as Duffy and Adele were getting far more attention from the British music industry simply for being white. White kids grow up listening to a couple of Aretha Franklin records and suddenly they’re great soul singers? Maybe, maybe not. There has to be more than just a desire to imitate. There has to be a genuine respect and understanding for the culture and the ability to make something new out of it. Otherwise we might as well go back to the days of the minstrel. Adele may not be a soul singer, but if the British press is so ignorant of what soul sounds like than perhaps Estelle has reason to complain. Or the confusion may be the price paid of the blurring and borrowing that allows for more creativity.

CRUNK IT?

Santigold crunk? A little too commercial, but maybe she'd catch on if she were given more of the Three 6 Mafia treatment. I'm not a fan of commerical rap, so let this point the way to the pure Santigold. My fav Santigold song "Shove It" recently got the treatment from Project Pat of Three 6 Mafia. But the appeal of Santigold is that she can't be put in the typical categories. She's a black woman who does rock, dub and new wave? It's nuts. I'm hopeful this venture into crunk is just a short detour, but it's hard to mess up Santigold. Listen if you must.


"SHOVE IT"

Deep underground

Listening to music on Myspace home of the unknown musician. It caters to all, good and bad. Milwaukee artist The Lmntlyst is among the good and should be better known. The make up of The Lmntlyst seems a little mysterious. It appears to a one man operation. The influences are varied and ultra cool. The sound is ambient at times without being too sleepy. Rock, jazz and hip mix with influences from Bowie and the middle east. Check out remix of Radiohead's "Reckoner."

www.myspace.com/thelmntlyst

Certain Stars do rock in a way that's familar, but still intriging. They remind me of an old sound that's been lost over the years. Critics call them a power pop band, but pop makes my skin crawl anf Certain Stars doesn't do that. They're more anti-pop pop. Check out "Can U Dig It. "

www.myspace.com/certainstars

Milwaukee is cooler than you think folks.