The band Slee.
“Our band goes for it every live set and I think Attitudinal Olives reflects that vibe,” says Slee lead vocalist Jim Seeland about the band’s new album. “Slee and this CD bring the hard, classic rock as if it’s pumping out of a custom muscle car stereo.”
Slee is comprised of Seeland, guitarist John “Barless” Pellichero, bassist Greg Bacsik and drummer Mark Sacco. This Jersey-based band has been playing or performing together for more than three decades, and with the release of this disc have reached a milestone.
“It is a great feeling to finally get this music out for the masses to enjoy,” says Sacco. “When we originally started these recordings so long ago, the angst of youth came across and although we have matured as people, barely (laughs), I think that the current recordings still have a lot of that youthful vitality and unabashed debauchery that attracted us to playing music in the first place. The technical flair in the arrangements and performances still hold up now as they did when we first put this material together.”
From the cover photo to the liner notes and the suggestive rear picture, this disc grabs your attention, and rocks from beginning to end with what Seeland calls a “big attitude sound.”
“Stop Being a Gentleman” is up first and touches upon the male quandary of meeting a woman and not wanting to be too forward yet wanting to throw caution to the wind and cut right to the chase. With “jungle drums” by Sacco and a blistering Barless guitar solo this is a fantastic way to kick off the party. “Atmospheric vocals” provided by Jodi Morgan, Jill Myra, Dana Sacco and Remboski lend a nice touch to this one as well. “First go the shirt, then go the pants/What’s all this talk about sex? You ain’t got time for romance.”
Track No. 2, the instrumental “Z 7,” and features some nice double bass work by Sacco and another searing guitar guitar solo by Barless. Pretty daring move for the second cut on an album of this nature to be an instrumental, but like the rest of this disc, it works.
Up next is “Write My Name,” a straightforward rocker with some well-placed syncopation and a dynamic infused breakdown that serves as a buildup to a strong, bass-laden finish.
Grand Funk Railroad would definitely approve of track No. 4, a cover of their megahit “Some Kind of Wonderful.” This is the first of two remakes on the album and it slips in seamlessly with the band’s originality and style without one wondering if it belongs. It does.
“Will Ya Ever?” is a semi-ballad infused with multiple influences that takes one back to arena rock and hair band days of the ’80s and beyond. You wouldn’t be necessarily wrong to feel Guns N’ Roses, Poison, progressive rock overtones or maybe even some Jerry Garcia influences. A nice change of pace.
Next is an eclectic mix of timing and styles ranging from circus music to rock and funk and all driven by Bacsik’s outstanding bass work. Should Geddy Lee and Les Claypool have a love child, “Contemporary Meat Market” would be its name. This one keeps you guessing yet sucks you one as you wonder where it’s going next.
Track No. 7 is the other cover on the record: an edgy version of The Eagles’ “Already Gone.” The crunchy guitar and driving rhythm take this one to another level.
“Onna Angle” is once again a return to straightforward rock. It seems to lack a bit of the punch of the previous seven but it doesn’t hurt the overall listening experience.
If the previous track lacked punch, the next one more than makes up for it. “I’m Your Thera P” starts off with a rippin’ bass line that is present throughout and features great in-sync guitar and drum work. “La Villa Strangiato” anyone? Yeah, that just about sums it up.
“Luv Ya Hunny (It’s No Crime)” is a return to good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll with an ’80s metal sound. Smoking guitar and a strong bottom end with tribal drums are once again led by Seeland’s more than capable vocals. This one is a standout cut for sure.
Track No. 11 is another instrumental called “Off White.” With twists and turns in every measure, don’t blink because you may just miss something.
Finishing off this 12-track beauty is “Walk Away, Walk Away.” Evoking visions of Rush and Jimi Hendrix wrapped in an in-your-face box. This was a perfect choice for a closer as it encompasses all this group of friends brings to the table.
For more about Slee, visit facebook.com/SleeTheBand.
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