Description
The Bootus Red is the sophomore full-length album by the British alternative rock band Tribe of Dan, independently released in the UK on Mister M Records in 1998. The album was recorded by Andy Taylor at The Magic Garden in Wolverhampton, England; with Gavin Monaghan and band member Dan Donovan producing.
Featuring Dan Donovan on vocals and guitar, Dan Harris on bass and backing vocals, and Matt Middleton on drums and backing vocals. Loops and remixes by Dan Doughty.
“Swamp rock” is what frontman Dan Donovan calls his brand of rough music, and that’s what it sounds like… a group of 60’s garage rockers who’ve been playing out in some forsaken marsh for 30 years, occasionally making forays into the civilized world to hear and bring back new ideas from grunge, goth, alternative, and folk. Then they throw it all in the mix, tweak the distortion, and go…
The Bootus Red seems much rawer and less focused than Shook Up Shook Up the band’s 1991 debut. The Billy Idol-with-bronchitis vocals have deepened and thickened into a palatable Tom Waits huskiness. Donovan’s voice isn’t as strained-whiny here as on his solo albums either, which is a good thing. The hooks are traded in for more atmospheric, moody experimentations, which begs for plenty of repeated listens to soak it all in. There are meandering scrappy guitars, spirit-world blues, big Nirvana drums, howling and whispering… just all around groovy music. Freaky poetry-rich lyrics too, although the lack of a lyric sheet makes it tough to make out Donovan’s thoughts.
Amid the rockier numbers are some mellow tunes more akin to Donovan’s solo work. «No Bad Dog» is a laidback song with his smoothest singing yet, and a radio-ready chorus done just cool enough to ensure it’ll never hit those airwaves it would rule were this a garage rock world. «Inside of Here» continues the relatively clear singing, with sleepy-quiet picking for the meditative lyrics to float over. Two spoken-word treats – «Boat Story» and a delayed track at the end – show off trippy, minimalist guitar effects and Dan’s English accent (which will no doubt add to the appeal for American listeners).
The diversity of the songs and the lower vocals make The Bootus Red my favorite of Donovan’s recordings so far, and it’s highly recommended for people whose musical tastes inhabit the fringes of the civilized music world. Tribe of Dan is grunge for the goth, indie rock for the classic rocker, alternative for the original grungers. [Josh Spencer, The Phantom Tollbooth]
For veterans of Greenbelt Tribe Of Dan will be a familiar name, although main man and namesake Dan Donovan has been recording solo and with fellow Swamp Cranker, Mr Bennett, for a few years now. It has to be said that most alternative/indie music now is highly produced and slick. Most, that is, not all. The Tribe hark back to the days of garage rock when people like Velvet Underground, MC5 and others went for volume not polish. For younger readers, think of Blur’s «Song 2» or Supergrass’ «Richard III» and you’re getting there. The sound is raw, bluesy and mostly in-your-face. But what about the lyrics?, I hear you ask… Ahh, yes – the lyrics! Anyone who saw them at this year’s Greenbelt will have caught a taste of Mr Donovan’s surreal humour and with song titles like «Monkeyman Snake» and «Big Boot Leg», and quite honestly an acute analysis of at least half the songs here is beyond the ability of this reviewer before his deadline. The nearest comparison I can make is the studied nonsense of Lewis Carroll (apologies Dan, if I have simply failed to appreciate the intent), and don’t even get me started on the significance of «The Staring Song» (30 seconds of “I like to stare”!!!). Some songs are less opaque – the psychedelic «In The Blood» and the catchy «No Bad Dog», a reaction to a personal pharisee. The most intimate song here, «Inside Of Here», would appear to be a reflection of the sanctuary that God provides. Many Christians will not like Big Rich, however – I’m pretty certain he doesn’t say “Big funky Rich”. Space doesn’t allow me to open up the whole argument about language here – but consider yourself warned. [James Lewis, Cross Rhythms, December 1998]
CD tracklist:
01. Steely Mob
02. Big Boot Leg
03. Monkeyman Snake
04. In The Blood
05. Big Rich
06. No Bad Dog
07. Inside Of Here
08. Happy Hole
09. The Staring Song (Radio Edit)
10. Boom The Boom
11. Boat Story
12. The Staring Song
13. Red Red
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Mister M Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://dandonovan.bandcamp.com/album/the-bootus-red
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