ALBUM REVIEW: THE BULL BUCKERS “WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE”
Music fans in our area should be happy to learn that as 2013 gets underway, it brings with it some promising album releases. Among the many titles currently available online or at the local record store, is the debut by Wilmington reggae/ska/funk powerhouse, The Bull Buckers. “When Push Comes to Shove,” the band’s first LP, is a diverse, fast-moving, in-your-face musical collage consisting of eight original tracks and two covers songs recorded in 2011 by Tim Sonnefield of MilkBoy Recording in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
Drawing from a wide range of influences such as New Orleans first line, Jamaican dub and reggae, post-punk, ska, and rock n’ roll, the album is a well-deserved foot-in-the-door for one of the hardest-working groups in the Tri-state area. Clocking in at under forty minutes, this impressive post-modern hodge-podge of sounds showcases the mature and peculiar songwriting abilities of frontman Kevin Tarzanin. With emotive and thought-provoking lyrics that touch on issues like politics, the state of modern society, and the age-old friendship between man and canine, Tarzanin and company deliver a set of tracks that speak candidly and honestly, avoiding any form of poetic pretentiousness or artistic affectation.
The record is backed by an ensemble of eight seasoned musicians. These include Steve Politowsky on drums, Jim Miller on trumpet, Zack Scudlark on alto saxophone, John Harris on trombone, Clay Reipen on bass trombone, Jesse Strange and Pete Bozick on guitar, and Tim Sonnefeld on piano. Overall, the group succeeds in weaving an eclectic tapestry of sounds that invokes a wide range of moods. Prominent throughout the album is the use of motifs borrowed from exotic locales like Latin America, Africa, or the Caribbean.
Additionally, four of the tracks have been submitted to the UK Songwriting Contest. Headquartered in England, the UKSC is one of the world’s most prestigious and oldest of its kind and is paneled by Grammy-winning producers and musicians. Some of these panelists have previously collaborated with A-listers like Sting, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney. A testament to the artistic depth and dedication of this Delaware band, all four of the songs made it to the semi-final stages of a contest that relies on more than 6,000 submissions.
Receiving praise from critics abroad as it launches the band on a tour of the East Coast, “When Push Comes to Shove,” offers listeners a refreshing and welcome departure from the mainstream sounds that fill today’s radio waves.