The Fleshtones feat. Lenny Kaye – “Brooklyn Sound Solution” (2011)
A Crawdaddy! review by j. poet (March 16th) of the new Fleshtones album featuring former rock critic and Patti Smith Group guitarist Lenny Kaye...
On this new album outing, the Fleshtones are joined by guitar god and Patti Smith sidekick Lenny Kaye, who brings his own brand of arty garage band finesse to the wailing guitars, unruly rhythm section, cheesy keyboard textures, and tortured vocals that remain the band’s stock in trade.
Brooklyn Sound Solution is almost evenly divided between instrumentals and vocal tracks, originals and carefully chosen covers, all mining the highs and lows of ‘60s style rock, blues, and soul. “Comin’ Home Baby” was a left-field hit for jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1961. The Tones have recorded it before, but they give it a new twist here with Lenny Kaye adding a bit of spaghetti western twang to the arrangement, with Ken Fox’s rippling bassline and Zaremba’s whistling organ solo riding shotgun. “Solution #1 (Streng & Twine)” brings to mind the theme music of a ‘60s TV detective show with its simple “Peter Gunn”-like guitar line and noir-flavored organ. The lead guitar drops a hint of surf music into the mix. Read the rest of this entry »
The Beat Patrol 