Album Review: Brian Setzer’s Gotta Have the Rumble-Release date-August 27, 2021 via Surfdog Records
Brian Setzer
Rock At Night says: OK, I have a penchant for rockabilly. I said it. So, when I heard three-time Grammy award-winner Brian Setzer was releasing his first solo album in seven years, listening to it was a no-brainer. Rock At Night has covered his holiday tours every December and a special moment was meeting him at the Troubadour in 2017 as winner of a Sirius XM contest.
So, I already sound biased–but still try to keep a discerning opinion. Well, Gotta Have the Rumble totally blew me away and exceeded my expectations! A few of the songs are straight-up rockabilly like “Rockabilly Riot”, “Stack My Money”, and “One Bad Habit.” “Turn You On, Turn Me On” sounds like it could come from the soundtrack of Grease. But, what really impressed me and will keep me coming back for more listens are the songs with a different tilt. “Checkered Flag” captures a dark, sleazy rockabilly sound. Very “bad boy”. However, “The Wrong Side of the Tracks” and “Cat with 9 Wives” brings full-on 50s, big band swing. I’m lovin’ the bossa nova beat of “Drip Drop” and the Middle-Eastern cool riffs and almost Latin beat of “Smash Up on Highway One”. “Rockabilly Banjo” is straight-on country-billy.
Honestly, Gotta Have the Rumble feels creative, fresh, and authentically rockabilly. Relaxing during COVID 2020 obviously brought new inspiration to Setzer!
Produced by Julian Raymond (Glen Campbell and Cheap Trick), GOTTA HAVE THE RUMBLE contains songs, all written or co-written by Setzer, and was recorded in Minneapolis (Setzer’s adopted hometown) and Nashville.
SONG LIST AND CREDITS
Checkered Flag
Written by Brian Setzer and James McDonnell 2.Smash Up On Highway One
Written by Brian Setzer and Mike Himelstein 3.Stack My Money
Written by Brian Setzer and Mike Himelstein 4.The Wrong Side Of The Tracks
Written by Brian Setzer and Mike Himelstein 5.Drip Drop
Written by Brian Setzer 6.The Cat With 9 Wives
Written by Brian Setzer and Mike Himelstein 7.Turn You On, Turn Me On
Written by Brian Setzer 8.Rockabilly Riot
Written by Brian Setzer and Mike Himelstein 9.Off Your Rocker
Written by Brian Setzer and Stephen “Dibbs” Preston 10.One Bad Habit
Written by Brian Setzer and Mike Himelstein 11.Rockabilly Banjo
Written by Brian Setzer and Stephen “Dibbs” Preston
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
