Rob's Album of The Week: Route .44's Poisoned The Well

You gotta love it when amazing bands from Providence put out dynamic albums, Route .44's Poisoned The Well is no different. With the soulful raspy voice of guitarist, lyricist and vocalist Ian Lacombe, the rhythmic upright bass skills of Eric Dziembowski and spectacular saxophones courtesy of Matt Swanton and Paul Choquette, Route .44 has a jazzy rock & roll sound that's unlike anything you'll hear from any band, any place and anywhere on the face of the Earth. Right when you press play, a strange sense of relative intelligence and groovy tunes will invade your soul and turn it into musical gold.

Imagine if Tom Waits and 70's Bruce Springsteen started listening to The Clash's London Calling and then decided to start a band, then you'll get a pretty good sense of the excellence that Route .44 encompasses. Poisoned The Well is the band's 3rd album since their formation back in 2004 and it shows a great progression of their unique approach  featuring old-school big band styles and political angst all at the same time making you want to cut a rug and shuffle your feet until they jump out of your shoes. Another great example of the beauty that The Creative Capital's vibrant music scene has going on beyond your doorstep.

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- Rob Duguay

It's that time again, you know what I'm gonna do. The most difficult and enjoyable part of this blog I write is telling you, the ever so faithful reader, what my favorite tracks on Poisoned The Well are. I kind of feel like a judge in a beauty pageant chock full of supermodels, every track is awesome and where do I start? Well, here goes something: "Brighter Than The Sun" is an infectious track about heartbreak and trying to make things right while they're walking out the door, splendid hooks and catchy lyrics make this song a jewel. "Blues For Babylon" is all about running from disaster and pandemonium, but it's nothing short of a thing of pure beauty with a kickass solo from Lacombe's guitar. "Change Is What You Said" makes me think of a song Woody Guthrie would have wrote wrote if he had a full band behind his fascist-killing machine of a guitar, simply sensational. Now don't just read this without checking it out for yourself, grab yourself a copy of Route .44's Poisoned The Well and bask in the awesomeness.

Route .44 will be having a release party for Poisoned The Well with The Clyde Lawrence Band and Paranoid Social Club at The Spot On Tour on 101 Richmond Street in Providence on November 10th, a great time is guaranteed to be had and you got to join me for a night that you'll never forget. Be sure that they'll be touring the northeast United States to support the new album as well. Until then, get yourself a copy of Route .44's Poisoned The Well. It's bliss that you can't avoid and you don't want to ignore.