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NRBQ<\/strong> are one of America’s great musical treasures. Though they’ve never enjoyed the sort of commercial success of, say, a Creedence Clearwater Revival<\/strong><\/a> or The Band<\/strong>, the catalog of this band formed in 1967 is filled with riches that draw from all manner of musical forms. Listeners are as likely to hear shades of cajun swamp pop as they are hints of pianist Terry Adams<\/strong><\/a>‘ hero Sun Ra<\/strong><\/a>. And though the lineup of NRBQ has changed significantly from the old days (only leader Adams remains from the original lineup), the group’s signature approach to music remains intact.<\/p>\n Wry lyrics are the highlight of many NRBQ tunes, and \u201cGreetings From Delaware\u201d on Brass Tacks<\/em>, the group’s latest, continues that tradition. Like all the tunes on the disc, \u201cGreetings\u201d sounds as if it was recorded live in the studio. There’s a loose-limbed feel that never feels about to fall apart; it’s the kind of aesthetic that results from a band touring and playing together for a long time, road-testing the tunes and honing them to sharpness before ever setting foot in a studio.<\/p>\n Adams’ assured and stylistically varied piano playing is often the centerpiece of the musical arrangements, but the rest of the band (guitarist Scott Ligon<\/strong>, bassist Casey McDonough<\/strong>, and Conrad Choucron<\/strong> on drums) all shine. Adams’ \u201cSit in My Lap\u201d feels like a distant cousin to John Lennon<\/strong>‘s \u201c(Just Like\u201d) Starting Over,\u201d minus the retro trappings. McDonald’s \u201cFightin’ Back\u201d has a pop-country vibe (the good<\/em> kind), and this lineup of NRBQ gains strength from its drawing upon the songwriting talents of three members.<\/p>\n NRBQ’s approach has always been modest and unassuming; the band’s music doesn\u2019t reach out and grab listeners; instead the tunes are warm, welcoming and inviting: it’s up to to the listener whether to come in or not. The song titles alone give a tidy overview of the concerns dealt with on Brass Tacks<\/em>: \u201cIt’ll Be Alight,\u201d \u201cLove This Love We Got,\u201d and a knowing reading of the Great American Songbook classic \u201cGetting to Know You.\u201d Adams’ harmonica on \u201cI’d Like to Know\u201d sounds and feels like an accordion, and his piano on \u201cPlaces Far Away\u201d \u2013 the disc’s most outr\u00e9 number \u2013 sounds as if it’s informed equally by Randy Newman<\/strong> and Sun Ra. \u201cCan’t Wait to Kiss\u201d You\u201d is a delightful singalong in a classic pop vein, and features a brief, ear-candy guitar solo.<\/p>\n
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