| Boppin' Up North - Volume 1 Rockaround Records RCD001
Subtitled "Get Ready to Rock & Roll, Norwegian Style", this collection holds eight bands and 24 tracks. The first song is a fabulous rocker titled "Rockabilly Record Rack" by Anders Westhagen's band Built For Speed. In the 80's and early 90's Anders was the frontman of one of my favorite Up North bands The Teencats. The Tempo Toppers present 3 tracks from their new album "Snapshot". Great band! You must also check out their superb 2001 debut album "Click Clack". Rockabilly veterans "Goin' Ape" lended 3 songs from their album "This is a Country Album", and despite that title this is really all great rockabilly music. Two of the three Cascadez tracks are from their selfproduced mp3.com album "Rough Cut", the song "Rockabilly Record Collector" is new to me, but like most Cascadez songs, it's a great Teddy Boy rock 'n' roll song, Crazy Cavan style. Cascadez frontman Arild Rønes brings you three more traditional rockabilly songs under his pseudonym Hank Sundown. Arild is also The Big Boss Man at Rockaround Records. Teddy Trigger & The Gatling Guns is a new name for me, I had never heard of them before. They sound very "neo", and their first contribution "Rocketeer On Rocket Fuel" is more of a punkrock song and totally misplaced on this album. The Twang Gang present two great rocking songs and one very weird slow song "My Old 45". Not a rock 'n' roll ballad at all, just a horrible popsong. Smalltown Ramblers are a fabulous rockabilly band with a wild saxophone, they contributed two great rockers and a boring 4 minute jazzy song. Be sure though to check out their latest album "Trucks, Trains & Evil Women". Too bad there are a few odd tracks on this album that just don't belong, but that still leaves you with 20+ great rocking tracks that make this sampler very much worth while. Tracklisting: The Tempo Toppers: Goin' Ape: Smalltown Ramblers: Twang Gang: The Cascadez: Built For Speed: Hank Sundown: Teddy Trigger & The Gatling Guns: Rockaround Records |
