Disco de The Mavericks: “Trampoline”

Descripción (en inglés) :

The Mavericks: Raul Malo (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric sitar, 6-string bass, piano, drums); Nick Kane (acoustic, electric, 12-string and baritone guitars); Paul Deakin (electric guitar, drums); Robert Reynolds (acoustic & electric basses, background vocals). Additional personnel includes: Mark Casstevens (acoustic, gut string & arch-top guitars, banjo); James House (acoustic guitar); Robbie Turner (pedal steel guitar); George Tidwell, Jim Williamson (trumpet); Dennis Good, Chris Dunn (trombone); Dennis Burnside, Dane Bryant (piano); David Hungate (acoustic bass); Glenn Caruba (percussion); Nashville String Machine. Recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. "Dance The Night Away" was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. This is a DTS CD, which features DTS 5.1 Surround Sound technology and is playable on a DTS-capable 5.1 Surround Sound system. The Mavericks: Raul Malo (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, electric sitar, 6-string bass, piano, drums); Nick Kane (acoustic, electric, 12-string and baritone guitars); Paul Deakin (electric guitar, drums); Robert Reynolds (acoustic & electric basses, background vocals). Additional personnel includes: Mark Casstevens (acoustic, gut string & arch-top guitars, banjo); James House (acoustic guitar); Robbie Turner (pedal steel guitar); George Tidwell, Jim Williamson (trumpet); Dennis Good, Chris Dunn (trombone); Dennis Burnside, Dane Bryant (piano); David Hungate (acoustic bass); Glenn Caruba (percussion); Nashville String Machine. Recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. "Dance The Night Away" was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. Though once classified, however vaguely, as a country outfit, The Mavericks have expanded their sound far beyond those confines on TRAMPOLINE. This frothy, colorful piece of pop artistry boasts a variety of influences. There are Tex-Mex touches on "I Should Know" (which also features some unusual, Lennonish chord changes), and the effervescent "Dance The Night Away." There's the jazzy, vibraphone-colored ballad "Fool #1." Elsewhere, '60s soul rhythms and Duane Eddy-style guitar licks alternate with Beatlesesque compositional touches (there's that Lennon influence again). Singer Raul Malo's primary influence, Roy Orbison, can still be heard here, both in Malo's lustrous tenor and the overall feel of the tunes and arrangements, which bring to mind the kind of classy early-'60s pop that was lushly orchestrated without sounding overproduced and could express heartbreak without losing its uplifting sonic veneer. Though once classified, however vaguely, as a country outfit, The Mavericks have expanded their sound far beyond those confines on TRAMPOLINE. This frothy, colorful piece of pop artistry boasts a variety of influences. There are Tex-Mex touches on "I Should Know" (which also features some unusual, Lennonish chord changes), and the effervescent "Dance The Night Away." There's the jazzy, vibraphone-colored ballad "Fool #1." Elsewhere, '60s soul rhythms and Duane Eddy-style guitar licks alternate with Beatlesesque compositional touches (there's that Lennon influence again). Singer Raul Malo's primary influence, Roy Orbison, can still be heard here, both in Malo's lustrous tenor and the overall feel of the tunes and arrangements, which bring to mind the kind of classy early-'60s pop that was lushly orchestrated without sounding overproduced and could express heartbreak without losing its uplifting sonic veneer.

Ostensibly, this is country music but, despite the inclusion of a steel guitar, a banjo and some acoustic guitars, this album cannot really be described as country - even using contemporary definitions. Along with the aforementioned instruments, there are electric guitars, organs, pianos, drums, strings and a full horn section including trumpet, trombone, saxophone, flute and clarinet. Of all the instruments, the horn section is the most important but what makes the album so successful is that, despite the plethora of musicians, the overall fell of the album is relaxing and the musicians never get in the way of the outstanding voice of Raul Malo.

The album didn't fit easily into any popular category, which may explain why it became far more popular in Britain (where radio stations generally play a broad range of music) than America (where radio stations cater for specific audiences). The first single (Dance the night away) made the top five in the UK pop charts, much to my surprise and delight. There are many other great songs here, all of them originals.

This is an outstanding album, very different from their previous album (Music for all occasions) or indeed anything else they've recorded. Country fans may not appreciate it (unless they have eclectic tastes, like me) but if you enjoy high quality, easy listening music, you might enjoy this album.

Raul Malo is a gifted, powerful vocalist and musician and the Mavericks have always been a showcase for his talents so it's not surprising that the group eventually disbanded. During their tenure, the Mavericks released several wonderful albums and I love them all. However, 1998's TRAMPOLINE revitalized the band's stylistic fusion of power pop, country-rock, honky-tonk and Latin music. TRAMPOLINE is absolutely the least "country" album the band has ever recorded, but it's the uniqueness of the sound that makes it such a mesmerizing work. Throughout the CD, we're offered morsels of everything from sitar to horns, from the Beatles to Sinatra, from up-tempo dance tunes to slow sultry ballads. The standout track for me "I've Got This Feeling" although "Dance The Night Away," "Fool #1,"To Be With You," "Dream River" and "Tell Me Why" are also favorites.