the subdudes
Primitive Streak

First Published at The Music Box, October 1998, Volume 5, #10

Written by John Metzger

After releasing its first two discs, the subdudes moved from its New Orleans home to Colorado and beefed up its sound with a bluesy electric guitar. The ensemble then struggled to recapture its early magic, and subsequently it disbanded. Primitive Streak, the group's fourth and final studio album, is certainly enjoyable even if it does sound like the remnants of a band that merely is going through the motions. Tommy Malone's vocals are still sweetly emotional, and songs like Carved in Stone and Do Me a Favor do manage to conjure up the familiar passion of The Band. More often than not, however, the subdudes seems to be out of ideas, struggling for a reason to continue performing. Most of the material on this set doesn't really go anywhere, and unfortunately for the subdudes, louder doesn't necessarily mean better.

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