The Srange Boys – Me And You
On their third LP in exactly three years, Austin, Texas’ The Strange Boys seem to have really hit their stride. That’s not to say that their prior two albums weren’t fantastic. I’ve already declared my love for 2010’s Be Brave and included my favorite track from that album,”Between Us,” on my round-up of the best music of 2010. The band has also gotten a bit of much deserved attention after having “Be Brave” featured in an episode of the UK series Skins. “Live Music” (not “Live” as in Live & Direct, but “Live” as in you live for music) is the bands most assured recording yet. I’m not sure if it’s because of the work of producers Jim Eno of Spoon or Costa Mesa’s Mike McHugh, but the band’s sound is bigger and fuller for this album. Additionally, there seems to be a subtle change with Ryan Sambol. He still sounds like the love child of Wanda Jackson & Bob Dylan, but his vocals here seem a bit smoother. It seems he’s learned that he’s got a powerful instrument in that distinctive voice and is finally getting comfortable at employing it in a much more varied way, as evidenced here on “Me & You” and other standout tracks like the rockin’ stompers “Punk’s Pajamas” and “Omnia Boa,” the downright tender “You and Me” or my favorite track and one that will definitely be in my year end show on Melting Pot, “Doueh.”