Bird Mancini - Year Of Change

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Second Story Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:15:00

Over two years ago, I was fascinated with the band called Bird Mancini. Their self-titled album captured my imagination and kept me interested from start to finish. Today their music came knockin' on my door again. Two years and hundreds of reviews later, I could not remember exactly what they sounded like, but I knew I liked them! Well, it did not take long ? after putting on their new disc Year Of Change I shook out those cobwebs and reintroduced myself to their great sound.

There is one problem here; they gave me 14 tracks of eclectic mesmerizing music to sink my teeth into, again, so where do I start? Well, there are four people in this band, two men and two women. Ruby Bird and Billy Carl Mancini share the lead vocal duties while Kevin Mahoney thumps away on the bass (and sings lead vocals on two songs "Oh, Babe" and "You're Not Alone")?and Nancy Delaney provides the rhythm for him to keep in step with on the drums, in between all of that action they both provide steadfast backup vocals. Bird is a multi-instrumentalist on keys, accordion, melodica (and backup vocals), while Mancini plays one mean ass guitar and provides some percussion (and backup vocals).

Two blues soaked rockers are what caught my ear the most. "Just Wait And See" and "Long Gone Blues." The spirit of these two songs is what makes them so convincing, and the character of the entire album keeps the ball-rollin' non-stop throughout the run of this impressive recording. At first when you hear their name, curiosity gets the best of you and you have to check them out, then you hear their music ? it's all she wrote, you are sold, it is the knockout punch floors you. When you hear the hook filled "Someone Like You" or the opening swamp boogie licks from the closing track "The Future's Begun," I guarantee you will be coming back for more on a regular basis. This band is fresh, different, and very progressive, now that is my cup of tea, how about you?

Tracklisting:
Wrong People (5:00) / You're My Obsession (4:04) / Don't You Fall (4:00) / Oh, Babe (2:57) / Year Of Change (7:08) / Sirens In The Night (4:25) / Love Holds On (5:01) / River Of Sighs (3:01) / You're Not Alone (3:49) / Just Wait And See (3:11) / Long Gone Blues (5:01) / Freedom Soul (4:21) / Someone Like You (3:40) / The Future's Begun (5:57)

Musicians:
Ruby Bird - keys, accordion, harmonica, melodica, lead & backup vocals
Billy Carl Mancini - guitars, percussion, lead & backup vocals
Kevin Mahoney - bass, lead & backup vocals
Nancy Delaney - drums, backup vocals

Discography:
Bird Mancini (2002)
Year Of Change (2004)

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: October 3rd 2004
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.birdmancini.com
Hits: 2146
Language: english