November 8, 2007

Tone Rangers - We Think You Love Us (But We've Been Wrong Before)

Pride of Washington, DC, the all male a cappella octet Tone Rangers put on a great performance at the 2002 Harmony Sweeps National Finals, and have been delighting audiences across the country ever since with their rich harmonies, fine arrangements and wonderful sense of humor ever since. Beginning with a brilliant send up of the Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You," this album continues with a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Find the Cost of Freedom"/"Southern Cross" medley that’s sweet enough to bring tears to the eyes of us old time CSNY fans, and a breathtaking, silly tale of hippie love, "Ariel." Continuing this spirited collection of 13 songs are a "Brown-Eyed Girl" that Van probably didn't have in mind, a rendition of "Unchained Melody" that has a little too much moonshine before going horribly astray, a manic "Sweet Talkin' Woman," a reasonably straight cover of "Rock the Boat," and an incongruous, lovely take on the romantic British folk tune "Down by the Salley Gardens" that could descend into silliness at any moment but doesn't."Viva Las Vegas" begins with the cloying sound of slot machines and features a nice "Elvis" lead in front of decidedly "non-union" background singers. The live cut "Wild Thing" begins as a hilarious Gregorian chant, and "I Need You" somehow samples "Meet the Flintstones," and the "Jetsons' Theme." The Rangers are funny, talented, always surprising--you've just gotta love these guys. (We think!) 2419 CD 14.95
Listen to "I Feel Fine"

Posted by acapnews at November 8, 2007 3:05 AM