The R&B Bombers - Bad Behavior - Self Released 2009

I mean that as a compliment of the highest form. The R&B Bombers provide a soundtrack to good times, spanning genres in this disc with a sound that would make people from all backgrounds want to get down together. That's the kind of charisma "Jake and "Elwood" brought to the table. With that being said, please don't think that I am implying that The R&B Bombers are a Blues Brothers Band knockoff. On the contrary, these fellas stand alone as a terrific 9-piece Jump Blues outfit, ready to party at the drop of a hat, and possessing the skills to get the job done.

The R&B Bombers have been around a while, too. Maybe not well known worldwide, but certainly experiencing a career resurgance with their fantastic tunes (and working on more as we speak.) They came on the scene in the 80's, during the height of a tricky time in the music world, where electronic sounds and upstart genres like Glam Rock and Hip-Hop were starting to breathe their first breaths. The Bombers released their self titled debut in 1982 (the year I was born, coincidentally,) and kind of laid dormant for the past couple of decades, at least in terms of studio material.

Last year, The R&B Bombers was re-released to great acclaim and worldwide Blues radio airplay, and Bad Behavior was hot on it's heels. The band is currently writing songs for their next album.

All of the songs on Bad Behavior were written by members of the band, tha majority of them penned by Lead Vocalist Joe Wilson, who excels in both the songwriting and song-belting categories. "Mr. G Man," a clever, timely tune about stimulus packages and the I.R.S. was co-written by Craig Thomas (who also handle lead vocals on the track) and Jack Beam, the only non-Bomber with a credit on the album. Sax Man Dave Tolegian arranged the instrumental "Plenty Horny" for Bad Behavior.

It's that kind of wordplay that makes this CD so fun. Bad Behavior packs just the right amount of witty double entendre that I wouldn't go so far as to call raunch, but I might instead term "mature humor." Songs like "Keep Rubbin' Me," "Gooshie," and "White Boys Don't Dance" are a blast to listen to, and may have you laughing so hard, you miss a dance step or two. As I was writing this I even saw the small disclaimer on the back of the CD that reads "Some mature content." Fantastic!

Wilson's writing is stellar, and The R&B Bombers' playing is top notch. The band is tight and the sound is great, with Blues, Jazz, Latin rhythms, and more all mingling together at times to create a wonderful record that is extremely enjoyable.

I highly recommend Bad Behavior.

Standout Tracks: All Of Them, especially "Nine One One," "Mr. G Man," and "White Boys Don't Dance."

Preview and Purchase Tracks From The R&B Bombers New CD Bad Behavior.