July 14, 1999

Listen Up
What's new and notable in the local music scene
by HOLBROOK

Thaddeus Hogarth "When The Sun Goes Down"
Recorded by Lauren Passareli at PassaBrown Studios, Boston
Overdubs recorded by Thaddeus 'at home' in Jamaica Plain
Mastered by Jenk at 9West Mastering, Marlbourough, MA

No stranger to Boston music fans, Thaddeus Hogarth was a founding member and songwriter for Boston's rock/soul juggernaut the Heavy Metal Horns. After taking a self-described five-year hiatus, Thaddeus returns with a ten-song CD of original compositions that are steeped in the deep funk and soul traditions of the 70s. The sounds are dead-on authentic old school funk, evoking originators Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder and newer soul sound re-discoverers like early 90s Lenny Kravitz or Jamaroquoi.

Thaddeus writes a nice song, and has a knack for coming up with a really catchy chorus for nearly every tune on the disc. Try and see if you can resist singing along to the chorus of When the Sun Goes Down or They Can't Stop Tomorrow. Couldn't do it, could you? Catchy choruses and sweet melodies nicely rendered: sounds good so far, but Thaddeus is just getting started. Check out his timely and funny lyric to the early 80s-flavored Computer Screen. I am not sure exactly where this tune fits in today's strange world of radio programming, but it should be a hit somewhere.

Thaddeus produced When The Sun Goes Down himself, and you have to look pretty hard to find fault with the job he did. The backing duo of Joey Scrima on drums and Steve Cuco on bass are paragons of "pocket". They really lay into these grooves, with impeccable timing, great feel, and what sounds like a real connection to the music. Scrima in particular pounds out time with ruthless funky finesse that would have won him a drum seat with any of the masters of soul. Who knows? Next time the Godfather of Soul blows through town, check out the drum riser - it might be Joey in the chair... Not to forget Thaddeus, who nearly blows himself off the songwriting mound by dint of his terrific musicianship; with few exceptions, he plays all of the other instruments on the album, and oh yeah, he can sing too - really well. I know this sounds like a review penned by a best friend, or perhaps his mother, but I swear, I've never met the man. After hearing the work of this JP wonder, I firmly believe that if he had eight arms and could grow a few more vocal chords, he'd be the best soul band you'd heard in a long time.

If you find yourself in the mood for some home grown soul, slide on down to JP's own Rhythm & Muse and Hi*Fi, to HMV, Tower Records in Harvard Square and Newbury Street, and to all Newbury Comic locations, and check out a copy for yourself. It's the real thing, baby.

Hobrook owns SoundSmith Studios and JP's own Anvil Records. He hopes to one day have as much soul as Thaddeus Hogarth.

When The Sun Goes Down is available by mail through Thaddeus Hogarth, P.O. Box 2017, Jamaica Plain, for $12.00 plus shipping and handling. Audio clips and ordering at www.thaddeushogarth.com, mp3.com, iuma.com, theorchard.com, cdfreedom.com.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES include July 22 at Ryles in Cambridge at 9 pm and August 20 at Milky Way Lounge and Lanes starting around 10 pm.