Chattanooga by Judge Nothing
............ the ultimate inspired amateurs. They are loud, yet delicate and dynamic, funny but not stupid, crazy melodic and to a man the sweetest three guys you might ever meet. What’s more, they do it effortlessly and with no pretense in any direction. WOW! I’m really kissin’ some here, but I mean it.
I could have chosen any number of Judge Nothing songs for The S.O. the M., but I lit on this stunner, Chattanooga, because it has all the elements of the Judges style and all the elements of a great song. What are those elements?: Enticingly melodic verse; hooky, catchy chorus; a smashing, howling change-up and then back home to breathe and settle. Intrigue, excitement, climax and release; sounds like something else that’s good.
And I haven’t even mentioned originality. The Judges come at rock from a different angle. I’m not sure who their influences are or who to compare them to (Archers of Loaf maybe?), but I know they don’t tote much baggage from whence they hale - the Illinois Midwest. I also know they have always been melody rich, and I think that’s the key.
Singer guitarist, Doug Rafety has a degree in saxophone. He’s an actual musician. He sings beautifully and he sings in weird notes and scales. He sings like a sax! Listen to Aug Mouth (bonus track here). His vocal sounds like a jumped up Morphine tune. Again, this melodic bounty is a huge part of The Judges charm, and Doug brings it in spades. Left on their own however these music majors will form Jam Bands, and that’s not always good.
Thus bring Flea Bodine, bass player, who started playing the actual bass instrument (or any instrument) when the Judges first bass player quit. Literally, Flea was hanging out drinking beer when the guy quit. Doug and Andy asked him right there if he wanted the job. Two weeks later he played his first gig. The genius of Flea is how perfectly he foils Doug. He’s a true foundation piece and he brings it with a heavy but just hand. He’s not really in the rhythm section though - and here is why:
Drummer, Andy Dykeman, is the pivot in this pendulum. Andy and Flea don’t lay down a classic rhythm section for Doug to dance on. Doug does his thing with voice and guitar. Flea does big root notes but also his own cool side thingy. It’s Andy who dances in between playing both ends toward the middle. When it’s heavy and deep he holds down Flea, and when there’s some noodling to be done he holds down Doug. Andy might be the real genius here. Anyway, it’s the damned definition of Geshtalt! If you listen to The Judges you will often hear them fling apart into three distinct parts, but parts in concert. Then, they will fling back together and slam as one.
Chattanooga is a great song. Please check it out, but do not deprive yourself of Suitcase or Aug Mouth. I think if you listen to all three, what I’ve written above will be clear as a chiming guitar, and you too will know why Judge Nothing is a great rock band. Also, check out the video. Then you will know what I mean buy “they do it effortlessly”. It’s all available on iTunes!
I could have chosen any number of Judge Nothing songs for The S.O. the M., but I lit on this stunner, Chattanooga, because it has all the elements of the Judges style and all the elements of a great song. What are those elements?: Enticingly melodic verse; hooky, catchy chorus; a smashing, howling change-up and then back home to breathe and settle. Intrigue, excitement, climax and release; sounds like something else that’s good.
And I haven’t even mentioned originality. The Judges come at rock from a different angle. I’m not sure who their influences are or who to compare them to (Archers of Loaf maybe?), but I know they don’t tote much baggage from whence they hale - the Illinois Midwest. I also know they have always been melody rich, and I think that’s the key.
Singer guitarist, Doug Rafety has a degree in saxophone. He’s an actual musician. He sings beautifully and he sings in weird notes and scales. He sings like a sax! Listen to Aug Mouth (bonus track here). His vocal sounds like a jumped up Morphine tune. Again, this melodic bounty is a huge part of The Judges charm, and Doug brings it in spades. Left on their own however these music majors will form Jam Bands, and that’s not always good.
Thus bring Flea Bodine, bass player, who started playing the actual bass instrument (or any instrument) when the Judges first bass player quit. Literally, Flea was hanging out drinking beer when the guy quit. Doug and Andy asked him right there if he wanted the job. Two weeks later he played his first gig. The genius of Flea is how perfectly he foils Doug. He’s a true foundation piece and he brings it with a heavy but just hand. He’s not really in the rhythm section though - and here is why:
Drummer, Andy Dykeman, is the pivot in this pendulum. Andy and Flea don’t lay down a classic rhythm section for Doug to dance on. Doug does his thing with voice and guitar. Flea does big root notes but also his own cool side thingy. It’s Andy who dances in between playing both ends toward the middle. When it’s heavy and deep he holds down Flea, and when there’s some noodling to be done he holds down Doug. Andy might be the real genius here. Anyway, it’s the damned definition of Geshtalt! If you listen to The Judges you will often hear them fling apart into three distinct parts, but parts in concert. Then, they will fling back together and slam as one.
Chattanooga is a great song. Please check it out, but do not deprive yourself of Suitcase or Aug Mouth. I think if you listen to all three, what I’ve written above will be clear as a chiming guitar, and you too will know why Judge Nothing is a great rock band. Also, check out the video. Then you will know what I mean buy “they do it effortlessly”. It’s all available on iTunes!