by Philip Dawdy
Slamm Magazine, San Diego, CA
Album Review for Superunloader **** (4 stars)

It's given with record reviews that you're going to get a lot of "they sound like..." or "that arpeggiated ninth recalls..." Assuredly, Superunloader's debut release contains scents of the past. I caught whiffs of Hendrix, Zappa, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Black Sabbath, ELP, even some Delta strummery. But it's not what goes into the mix that's interesting- it's what comes out. And in Superunloader's case, I'm fascinated and somewhat awe struck. Rock'n'Roll can still do that for me.

From the opening track "Keep it Rolling" it's obvious that this rock trio is up to something a bit different. Funky bass and guitar, then the onslaught of distant drums, topped by overdriven guitar, then an attack of cute, plonky keyboards such as Zappa might have favored. It's all done with taste, balance and precision. Little things that seem to have gotten lost in the past few years. As Chad Farran, their drummer/percussionist (who also plays keys on the album) puts it: "We're tired of the alternative thing." With Chris McGreal on bass and Jimmy Lewis on guitar and vocals, Superunloader (live, I must stress) loves to improvise. In fact, the work on the album announces itself as a launching pad for improvisational work. The band is so in and out of styles, that the result would doubtlessly be compelling. That's not to put down the material on the disc. The 0's and 1's are so suggestive, evocative, and downright poetic that I listened to album three times before even starting to take notes. Their musical styles are varied (barely a verse goes by without something new) and run from Funk to Blues to Acid Rock and Prog Rock.

Then there's Jimmy Lewis' guitar work. He's schooled himself at the feet of the masters, and come home with some pretty tall work of his own. The result is a vast catalog of riffs and ideas that he unloads at will. It's almost to highlight individual songs: each one is it's own highlight. There are no weak spots on this album. Just new epiphanies every few moments. And that is what Rock n' Roll should be about. Something we're going to learn all over again.