Labello

I'm sure I'll lose people by throwing around the name 'the Mommyheads.' That was Adam Cohen (aka Adam Elk)'s previous band. This CD is very similar to their last, self-titled CD. I would recommend this CD to you if you liked the Mommyheads. But since most of you haven't even heard of the Mommyheads, I'll write a review.This is pop. Not radio pop, but pure pop. This has all the hooks you could ever want. Adam has an awesome tenor voice. It works well with the pop that he plays on this album. Most of the album doesn't feature guitar very much. Just chords on the guitar while the non-vocal melodies come from mostly the bass or keyboards of some sorts. There are a few songs that tend to be a little bit unlike the others. "Big wheel" is a hard-grooving funk song, but still with pop elements. "Too Much of nothing" is similar to "Big Wheel" in the funkiness.The only band besides the Mommyheads I could compare this to would be Fountains of Wayne, but with more soul and more hooks.

A previous reviewer identified Adam Elk as Adam Cohen, son of Leonard Cohen. Sorry, wrong Adam Cohen. This Adam Cohen was a member of The Mommyheads, a great overlooked band from the early/mid 90s. They released many an indie record before signing to Geffen, releasing one CD and then immediately breaking up. Great band, and Adam is a gifted songwriter.

Listening to this CD for a first time reminds one at the same time of James Brown, Queen and any number of soul singers from the 60's and 70's. While it has become common place for artists to mix genres, I haven't heard a pop/rock artist present updated funk and soul as truely as Adam Elk. The track that truely starts the funk fest is Great Mistake and each track following it keeps one intrigued at what will develop. Very impressive considering that this is basically a one man show.

Picked up this disc from the artist at his 1999 performance at the International Pop Overthrow festival in Los Angeles. It has been in my car stereo ever since.