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Chapa - A Buyer's Ride

Rating

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RIYL

Ojo
Nuclear Rabbit
Incubus
The Velvet Underground
Tom Waits
The Eels

Tracklist

1.Rising Up Between Mistakes
2.Only Me
3.Edna's Thrill
4.Honestly
5.A Masquerader's Downfall
6.Well You Wish Thee
7.From Your Cloud
8.All 3 Faces
9.A Pause In Life

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My first thoughts upon exploring A Buyer's Ride was, "What the hell kind of hicked-out shit is this?" Two tracks in, I was fixated on this. Why does an album from the former bassist of Ojo sound so country?

However, with the opening of "Edna's Thrill," it became apparent that there was much more to this album than twang (even Russ Chapa's voice twangs with the best of them). Soon, it was a folk album with country leanings. It grew stranger and stranger with each track. As it came to a close, I didn't even know what to call it. Folk with touches of Incubus, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nuclear Rabbit, only without sounding like any of those bands or their vocalists? It goes beyond categorization while avoiding the cliché "undescribable" tag most bands would get when they "go beyond categorization." It's a bluesy rock album with twang and a kick to the pants. That's what Chapa is. From country twang to tripped-out psychedelia, Chapa shows off an impressive array of vocal styles, at times sounding like a mix of his old band Ojo and Primus ("A Pause in Life").

Chapa is by no means the next Velvet Underground or anything (slightly-off vocals…Neil Young…Close, but no cigar), or the next anything, really. It's just a very eclectic and surprisingly good solo album from the bassist of a band that had about two hundred fans. If you liked Ojo, you'll like this. If you hated Ojo, don't let that stop you from searching this out. If you have no idea who Ojo is, but you like eclectic alt-folk or whatever you crazy kids call it, spin Chapa a few times. See if it dizzies you up.


--Ben Rice

Author

sir mix-a-lot
Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:53PM

Comments

monstar_serum_booster
09/15/2005
10:27AM
Location
Behind you!
I demand that everyone who claims to be worth their salt, stops referring to "EELS" as "THE EELS", that shit'll piss me off...



"I too have an uncle... come in..."

Roncag
09/15/2005
02:42PM
Age: 30
Location
Anytown USA
I have the eels in my fishtank.

You play to win the game.

sir mix-a-lot
09/15/2005
05:28PM
Location
Sacramento, CA
haha, motherfucker! i had the feeling that i put down neil young instead of lou reed when i referenced velvet underground. and i come home to find that i was right. son of a bitch.

and it's just weird to say "eels" alone. it looks awkward. i am well aware of what the band name is.

also, adam added those riyls. i'm pretty sure i just said eels...but maybe not.

I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.

Originally stated by Scott Miller
It's like talking into a mirror!
monstar_serum_booster
09/16/2005
02:52PM
Location
Behind you!
sir mix-a-lot
haha, motherfucker! i had the feeling that i put down neil young instead of lou reed when i referenced velvet underground. and i come home to find that i was right. son of a bitch.

and it's just weird to say "eels" alone. it looks awkward. i am well aware of what the band name is.

also, adam added those riyls. i'm pretty sure i just said eels...but maybe not.


Forgiven then, but whether it sounds awkward or not it isn't their name.



"I too have an uncle... come in..."

Roncag
09/16/2005
02:59PM
Age: 30
Location
Anytown USA
I talked to E. He said they are called The Eels....it was just a typo on all the cds.

You play to win the game.