Music review: The Hot Sardines – 鈥楩rench Fries and Champagne鈥�
Formed in New York in 2007, the Hot Sardines burst on the music scene with a self-titled debut album tagged by iTunes as one of the best jazz albums of 2014.
Continuing the passionate pursuit of delivering the delectable sounds of early swing, jazz and blues, the eight-member ensemble hits all the right notes with a sizzling sophomore release.
Fueled by lead singer Elizabeth Bougerol and pianist Evan Palazzo, the Hot Sardines serve up an appetizing collection of slick covers and original numbers influenced by artists like Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday with 鈥淔rench Fries and Champagne.鈥�
Sound intriguing? Oh, it鈥檚 all that and a bag of chips for sure.
Carving out a niche for the band鈥檚 unique style, the Hot Sardines follow similar-sounding bands from the 鈥�90s such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Squirrel Nut Zippers by bringing an appealing freshness to a vintage style for a new generation of music fans to savor and appreciate.
From the classic Marilyn Monroe film 鈥淪ome Like It Hot,鈥� the peppy and playful tone of 鈥淩unning Wild鈥� initiates the festivities before giving way to the charming love ballad 鈥淧eople Will Say We鈥檙e in Love鈥� from Rodgers and Hammerstein鈥檚 鈥淥klahoma!鈥�
The album鈥檚 sparkling performances are highlighted by a dreamy cover of 鈥淲hen I Get Low I Get High鈥� originally recorded by Ella Fitzgerald in 1936 and a sultry version of Robert Palmer鈥檚 classic hit 鈥淎ddicted to Love.鈥�
The former features a special appearance by Alan Cumming from 鈥淭he Good Wife鈥� while the latter showcases the sophisticated sex appeal of Bougerol鈥檚 lush and alluring vocals.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have a party/Invite all our friends/Drink and pretend life鈥檚 grand/Everything is dandy,鈥� sings Bougerol on the title track that reflects the tasty blending of the high-lifers and the ham-and-eggers.
Bougerol sounds like a younger Linda Ronstadt from her soothing collaboration with Nelson Riddle on 鈥淲hat鈥檚 New鈥� and 鈥淔or Sentimental Reasons鈥� on the lovely 鈥淯ntil the Real Thing Comes Along.鈥�
With 鈥淐omes Love鈥� and 鈥淟a Fille Aux Cheveux Roux,鈥� Bougerol spices things up by singing in French. I鈥檓 not quite sure what she鈥檚 saying, but it sure comes across mysterious and saucy.
鈥淕ramercy Sunset鈥� is a relaxing instrumental perfect for forgetting the day鈥檚 woes as one gently eases into the cocktail hour to unwind and reflect.
The latest effort from the Hot Sardines demonstrates that you can indeed mix fries and champagne and still have yourself a real good time.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.