1. Blues de Musicien: I thought this was going to be the Nathan Abshire tune of the same name, but no. This one sounds like Iry LeJeune's Come Get Me (Viens me Chercher) done as a two step. I might have misidentified which Iry tune this is, but it's one of them. Done here with the modern bass sound. Done kind of in the Walter Mouton style. Wilson sings it.
2. Musicien avec le couer casse: Cedric does a great job singing and playing accordion on this one. Wilson plays fiddle. Starts off with just the accordion, then the bass comes in with a nice line. This one will make you think of the Touchet Brothers band and bands like that because of its pace. I sure would love to hear Touchet play his patented steel figures on this one! I like this one a lot. They don't rush, don't miss any of the steps. I can imagine that Gervais Matte and Mom are going to be giving this some air on KRVS Sunday mornings.
3. Wild Side of Life: The Hank Thompson tune. Or if you like, the Kitty Wells tune. Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes. Nice tribute to the 50s sound. Drew on vocal. This really sounds the way Belton did it.
4. Ma Petite Femme: Quelque chose d'extra! Blues with Cedric on vocal, Wilson on piano, Jon on some lead guitar. It's like Canray Fontenot meets Clifton Chenier! I like blues fiddle like this. Reminds me of L.C. "Good Rockin'" Robinson.
5. Mon Couer Fait Mal: Starts out as Fifi Poncho (an old one done a long time ago by Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux,) then morphs into an original tune with a different part and some vocals.
6. Valse de Belizaire: Wilson sings this one. New verse two. I guess Nathan's verse about dancing the polka and the Paul Jones don't make much sense any more.
7. Jig Cajun: I wonder where Canray took this one? I bet this one will be a crowd pleaser in concert. Something Beausoleil might play.
8. Pardon Waltz: A Belton Richard song done very well by Drew. Another of my favorites on the album.
9. Pine Leaf Boogie: Nice little rocker! The notes say it's based on a Zydeco tune, but at one part it almost morphs into Hathaway Two Step, the Cajun Freeze!
10. Chere Joues Rose: The Austin Pitre tune! Two fiddles on this one. Sounds like they had fun with this mysterious tune. Cedric on vocal.
11. Creole Mardi Gras: Another crowd pleaser live, I am sure. Some call and response on this one.
12. Quand Rita est Arrive: Un autre quelque chose d'extra! Didn't see this one coming. An original done like a jure! Storytelling about the terrible storm.
13. J'ai Perdu ma Chance: A Drew original. Ready for prime time (the KRVS French shows!). Shades of La Derniere Valse in this one, to my ears.
What a great CD. Just got my copy yesterday and was very pleased. The Boys have truly become one of the finest local bands we have and you can tell they have a great time doing what they do. This is what it is all about anyway. The PLB's are very unique in that they bring the energy and spunk of a young group to music that has roots. If they could draw the attention of the age group that is spending so much time and money following the likes of a certain zydeco musician (think Vibrator) and spark the interest that he has, they could do a lot of good for Cajun Music.
The notes on their Arhoolie cd mention that they couldn't remember any recorded version of Pardon Waltz other than Belton Richard's. I found it a bit by accident just now on my copy of Donald Thibodeaux and Cajun Fever, Fred's Hot Step. That one has Philip Alleman on steel and Allen Ardoin on fiddle.
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
