G. Love and Special Sauce- Long Way Down

Sun 25th Oct, 2009 in Music Reviews

G. Love and Special Sauce have been delivering solid raps, beats and grooves for 15 years now. The years seem to have passed in a dancing, smoky haze and I cannot comprehend that it has been that long since that eponymously-titled release on OKEH Records in 1994.

The three-piece remains the same (well, on this release at least). G.Love sings, and handles guitars and harp, Jeffrey Clemens bangs on things, and the almost ever-present bass of Jimi Prescott remains. Since January though, Jimi is no longer part of the tribe, as he wants to plant his feet in one place for a while. Touring with G. Love on bass now is Timo Shanko.

This combination of blues, hip-hop and a stoner sensibility shines once again on this Australia-only release, Long Way Down.G. Love’s fan-base in Australia has always been strong and this CD will be a welcome addition to our collection. Long Way Down boasts five tracks that have not been released on other G.Love records here, and six tracks from the Superhero Brother album. Basically, this record is an exclusive for us Aussies and gives us a good view of what to expect when G. and the Band get on our stages in November.

With this record, we get the positive vibes of Peace, Love and Happiness, reminiscent of Mardi Gras time in New Orleans; Wontcha Come Home, a repetitive ditty that will get the crowd moving; and Crumble, a gorgeous, dreamy love song containing a tip of the fedora to one Mr. John Lennon.

Dreamz is G.Love and Special Sauce from the olden days, as my kids would say. This takes me back to the first release in – œ94, with some dirtier, psychedelic blues rattling. G. Love and band let the stoner sensibility hang out with Who’s Got The Weed, which commences with a flick of the Bic and the burbling sounds of the bong. We got the weed, I say! I recently caught a fabulous set by Special Sauce in San Fran and everyone seemed to have the weed.

The longevity of this band and their leader has to do with optimistic and thought-provoking lyrics and the ability to get down into the groove. G. Love and Special Sauce visit Australia this November. Make sure you support them with a honey-drippin’ smile on while they are here.

Long Way Down is out now.