Album Review: The Lord Baltimores
As a rule, when I receive CDRs in the mail, I don’t consider them for review on Musoscribe. (Why, you may ask? Simple: I receive so many submissions, there has to be some standard. Sort of like potential employers requiring applicants have a college degree for a job that really doesn’t call for one. Maybe not fair, but there it is.)
In any event, for reasons I can’t explain, I decided to pop this CDR from The Lord Baltimores into my player anyway. And I am quite glad I did so. The music is hard to categorize: it’s a kind of big band rock, with hints of everything from Henry Mancini to Jaga Jazzist and Lisa Maxwell’s Jazz Orchestra. The music often sounds like some of the most evocative soundtrack material you’ve ever heard. “Relays” will please those who enjoy “crime jazz” or blaxploitation soundtracks.
The large ensemble is led by guitarist R. Jason Vandygriff (aka RJ5) and multi-instrumentalist David J. Pierce (aka DeepEars), but I’m afraid I can’t tell you much more about the group. What I can confirm is that the album is a collection of fully-realized (mostly) instrumental tracks that are as tuneful as they are intriguing. Nothing about The Lord Baltimores suggests the album was made in the 21st century – much less during a pandemic, when gathering nearly 20 musicians into a studio is impractical, to say the least. But the fact remains that this album does exist, and you should hear it.
I’d offer a hint as to where you might purchase this CD (um, CDR) if I knew, but I don’t. It is on Spotify and Pandora, though.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.