Checkerboard Lounge – Roller Coaster
Cheersquad Records and Tapes
10 tracks plus a bonus
Checkerboard Lounge is an Australian quartet from Melbourne, Australia. This latest addition to their recording legacy features ten new original songs. They recorded their last album in 2020 when they were semi-finalists at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The album, entitled Sun Sessions, won four of six possible Melbourne Blues Awards and was chosen as the Best Blues Album at the 2022 Music Victoria Awards. It was also part of Rhythms magazine’s Top 10 Albums of the Year and charted for over a year in Australia.
They claim to be a soul blues band, but I find their stuff closer to rock blues, although they do have a funky side to their music that travels through each cut. Shannon Bourne plays guitar and Zoë Frater is on bass. On the Hammond organ is Tim Neal who adds alto sax to the last track. Band founder Carl Pannuzzo sings and plays drums on the album.
The title track “Roller Coaster” starts the set. A rocking tune, it features some cool organ work, a nice groove that drives the tune, and stinging guitar. Up next is “Double Standard,” another rocking cut with a slick, almost tongue tying delivery of the lyrics along with more well done organ and guitar. Slow and deliberate jazzy and soulful blues follow with “King Of Nothing.” The vocals and organ are crying to the listener and the guitar fills in sweetly in this somber piece.
“Killing Time” opens with a driving intro as the band gets nasty as they deliver another rocking cut. Driving guitar is the order of the day here. The shorter version of “Came To Get My Heart Back.” It’s got a funky groove and has a cool vibe. “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free” follows and opens with some ethereal, almost churchy organ (in a Bach sort of way); this goes on for over two minutes and then a funky, midtempo rocking tune breaks out. We get more organ and guitar featured as this cut goes on for seven and a half minutes and gets the feet tapping as it builds and builds. Then “Uncivil Compliance” gives us even more rocking funkiness in this hard hitting instrumental.
“Cry No More” opens with slide guitar speaking to us with an organ backdrop. Slow, dirty blues here on this cut. Passionate vocals grab the listener as the backing music builds and builds along with the vocals and the lengthy song goes out with a bang. Next is “Same Old Fool” which talks about things changing but, despite those changes, things remain the same. They get some more funk and rocking stuff going to good effect. The album officially concludes with “Prodigal Man,” which opens with guitar and organ and transitions into a thoughtful and tasteful instrumental cut, again topping seven minutes.
The full version of “Came To Get My Heart Back” is also included on their submission. The funk gets extended as Pannuzzo grinds out the vocals with passion with the band supporting the effort in style for nearly eleven minutes. It’s a long take on a good song that listeners will likely enjoy.
Funky, soulful, rocking blues are what is served up here. The vocals are gritty and impassioned. The organ is well done, the guitar work is cool and the bass and drums drive the bus to solidify the sound. It’s an Australian take on soul blues and if your looking for something a little different to sample then this might be something you’ll enjoy!
