Review Summary: The dirty south takes its shot at chaotic math-grind.
If you're going to name your band after a washed up T.V. star, chances are good you hold a very special, unqiue, and more than likely, misunderstood sense of humor. Such is the case of this math-grind Tennessee quintet, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, presenting their sophomore effort, Danza II: The Electric Boogaloo. Like many releases of the genre, Danza II polarized listeners. Their trademark sound of awkward time signatures, discordant riffs and breakdowns, and seemingly incoherent vocal patterns leaves many listeners wondering whether or not what they’re listening to is music or just pure aural chaos. Not to mention while all this is going on, they are fed the story of “Cease”, a troublemaking southerner whose only wish is to have a few relaxing drinks at the bar…
Underneath the rough edged surface lies some technical and talented songwriting, and musicianship. From the moment You Gonna Buy the Beers or the Whole Damn Bar starts, it is evident that a great deal of thought went into piecing together the riffs. Some intricate harmonies performed by guitarists Josh Travis and Layne Meylain provide a spectacular heaviness throughout. Many of the riffs are fantastically original, yet at the same time, there is an uncomfortable amount of riff recycling going on, leaving some songs sounding very similar.
One of the overlooked highlights on Danza II comes in the contribution from vocalist Jesse Freeland. His lyrics, though often unintelligible on the recording, deserve plenty of attention, as they are far more serious and powerful than the albums image would have you believe. Written in the like of poems, Freeland’s lines convey concepts of lost love, strength in adversity, and the hope of tomorrow.
“this test that produces strength
to persevere against something so immense
with humble heads and strong backs we walk
we walk amongst earned belief and in this we
with humble heads and strong backs we walk
mature shattered pieces
to become this strong complete”
The albums downfalls, though few, take a hefty toll on the final production. The performance of bassist Mike Butler is phenomenal (if you’ve ever been to a live show, you know exactly why). On the final mix, however, Butler is all but inaudible save for a few moments when the guitars quiet down. Also as mentioned earlier, some songs lack identity and they tend to blend into one another. Ultimately, Danza II secures Tony Danza’s unique sound, and produces a solid second LP.
...And in case you were wondering, the story ends with “Cease” murdering everyone in the bar with a chainsaw.
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