Issue
#130
Mar. '10
The Cover record. Not a new concept. In fact, I’d be
hard pressed to name any that were worth the price of admission. More common in
the 50’s & 60’s when there were bands that made their living scoring chart
topping hits off of cover tunes; nowadays it’s more a gimmick than a mainstay.
So what would possess a relatively obscure independent
band to not only record and release a full album of cover tunes, but also to make
it an album of covers of obscure independent songs released by fellow obscure
independent artists? Maybe the fact that they made a Great record.
With their 4th release (1 full length
& 2 EPs prior), Cover Thy Neighbor, Saint
Bernadette from
Bridgeport, CT have matured into the great artistic band they showed they were
with their 1st release, In The Ballroom - a provocative, sultry, sexy, sensual exploration
of the alluring side of Jazz,
Latin, Blues, Rock, Swing, Big Band, lounge, cabaret, and torch sound. It was
named the 2007 IndepenDisc of the Year
riding Meredith DiMenna’s (vocals,
acoustic guitars) seductive vocals and husband Keith Saunders’ (electric/acoustic guitars,
percussion, keys) arrangements and production of the songs along with Joe Novelli (Astral slide guitar,
trumpets), which made for a stunning debut. The 2 follow up EPs, I Wanna Tell You Something (08) and Word To The Lourdes (09), were recorded
with guest musicians, including now band members, Brian Anderson (upright bass) and Dave Valle (drums, percussion), and found St. B. – as their fans are fond of referring to them – hitting the
rock side hard with Meredith’s lounge/torch singer seductress kicking ass in a hard
edge way that still had all the divinity of satin and lace swaddled in leather
and chains.
It was there, out on
the edge, that St. B. found
themselves. Major supporters of the arts, they threw themselves into the
musical culture that was coming out of Connecticut,
especially in the Fairfield County
area in which they reside. Experiencing an epiphany in the quality of
music/songwriting they were hearing, they decided to bear witness and spread
the word. St. B. once again knelt at
the alter of Meredith’s flowing command of torch vocals and the polished Joe
Novelli Sound (I’m on record here as christening the cries that his self-built
astral guitar reels off at will as the: “Joe
Novelli Sound”). Together with the Anderson/Valle tight, syncopated rhythm
and capped off with Keith’s command of guitars and production and St. B. has given us an incredible
record that stands on its own, even though it is composed of 11 cover tunes.
Cover Thy Neighbor is an accomplishment that St B. and their fans should savor. They have taken the words/songs of
11 prophets and have preached them to us from the pulpit of the church
of Saint Bernadette.
The result is an amazing testament to the saving grace of the music that
St. B. spreads as their gospel.
In keeping with the
sanctity of the subject, Saint
Bernadette took extra special care in the deliverance of this sermon by
hand-pressing only 200 copies. Presented in a beautiful, silk-screened,
individually numbered package, complete with booklet and extras, it is a rare
treat in this day and age of over mass-produced music that is force-fed to us.
The Cover record. Not a new concept. In fact, I’d be
hard pressed to name any that were worth the price of admission.
No, wait.
Cover Thy Neighbor by Saint Bernadette.
More than worth the price of admission,
it will save your musical soul.
Saint Bernadette - Cover Thy
Neighbor
is available now for: $19.98 +s/h*
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There were only 200 copies of this Limited Edition CD pressed with Special silkscreened, hand numbered packaging. Saint Bernadette saw to it that IndepenDisc now has a few of the final copies available. This is a Rare Gem.
11 tracks covering Connecticut Artists, yet so obscure that this could
pass for a Saint Bernadette original. One of their best releases, it
shows a band so on top of their game that they can belt out what it
takes to make any song their own.
Don't wait to get your copy of this amzing CD!
Once they're gone, they're gone.
*Shipping
&
Handling charges:
USA - $3.00
for the first 2 CDs
ordered,
Add $1.50 per each CD after.
Canada - $5.00 for the
first
CD ordered,
Add $2.00 per each CD after.
Everywhere else -$7.00
for the
first CD ordered,
Add $3.00 per each CD after.
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