Old school funk with a contemporary, jam band-like appeal.

11 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: Funk, ROCK: Funk Rock



Details:
RUBBERNECK SETS NEW FUNK STANDARD WITH RELEASE OF "EGO-MANIC"
Nearly four years after the release of their nationally acclaimed album, El Nino, Rubberneck is once again rewriting the boundaries of funk, soul, and Latin music with their own timeless fusion. Intelligent, hook-laden, and funky as ever, EGO-MANIC soulfully leads the listener through the highs of the party and the lows of bottomed out relationships, while maintaining a groove that is as addicting as it is undeniable. In a style that is deeply rooted, yet totally their own, Rubberneck is poised to capture the feet, minds, and hearts of funk lovers everywhere.
EGO-MANIC was recorded and mixed at Falcon Studios in Portland, OR. and incorporates enduring attributes of music by James Brown, Tower of Power, Santana, and Curtis Mayfield, while maintaining a distinctly modern feel. Inspired by artists like India Arie, D'Angelo, Angie Stone, and Jill Scott, Rubberneck's frontman/songwriter, Ricardo Ojeda remarks, "I think if you listen to the new soul and funk out there right now, you'll find our muse. We just like to come at it with an old-school approach." That "old school approach" is part of what makes EGO-MANIC so special. They avoid employing samples or programmed beats and recorded many of the songs live in order to capture the energy that makes their club performances so convincing. As a result, the album transmits a sense of classic authenticity and that heavy, urban feel DJs are recreating in the studio.

EGO-MANIC is blazoned with highlights. The thick groove is provided courtesy of nationally-renown drummer Bruce Carter (Cameo, Kenny G, Pleasure) and Pablo Ojeda (bass), while several tasty solos are added by saxmen Tim Bryson (Linda Hornbuckle) and Josh Cliburn (Porterhouse). Whether it is singing an up tempo sex-infused tune like "I Don't Know" or the Curtis Mayfield-inspired feel of "I'll Be Right Back," Ricardo Ojeda's soulful vocal rasp relays a sense of intense passion with each passing lyric. Mega-tight horn lines arranged by saxophonist John Morrow and recently acquired trumpeter James Gregg jump from Motown to Salsa to New York funk and add a distinct flavor to each tune. Combine this with a strong songwriter sensibility, irresistible hooks, and EGO-MANIC has the makings of a new funk classic.