Susquehanna (album)

Last updated
Susquehanna
Susquehannaalbum.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2008
RecordedJune–July 2007
Length45:25
Label Space Age Bachelor Pad
Rock Ridge (2009)
Producer Steve Perry
Cherry Poppin' Daddies chronology
Soul Caddy
(2000)
Susquehanna
(2008)
Skaboy JFK
(2009)
Alternate album covers
Susquehanna alt cover.jpg
Alternate artwork

Susquehanna is the fifth studio album by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released by Space Age Bachelor Pad Records on February 19, 2008 digitally, physically on June 10, 2008, and reissued by Rock Ridge Music on September 29, 2009.

Contents

Susquehanna marked the band's return to recording after nearly a decade following their hiatus in 2000 and sporadic touring throughout 2002–2006. The album follows the eclectic format of previous records, with Latin and Caribbean-influences in addition to the band's usual swing, ska, and rock.

Overview

Susquehanna is influenced by Latin and Caribbean music, incorporating flamenco ("Roseanne"), soca ("Tom the Lion"), bossa nova ("Breathe"), Latin rock ("Bust Out"), and reggae ("Blood Orange Sun") with swing, ska, and rockabilly. While the majority of the album is original, a notable exception is a re-recording of "Hi and Lo", a ska punk song written by Daddies frontman Steve Perry for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones in the mid-1990s, ending up as part of the Daddies' own repertoire and becoming a staple of their live shows.

Perry explained that the album's tropical slant was due to his prediction that one day "American pop will owe a huge debt to world sensibilities...these I wanted to explore and potentially boil down to some fundamental building blocks that might lead toward a new, more international style". Stylistically, Perry claimed that he based the structure of Susquehanna on James Joyce's Ulysses in that each of the songs were written in a different style and genre but the album was thematically coherent. [1] He elaborated that he drew inspiration from Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film Pierrot le fou in that "songs are a means to an end. Genres reflect off each other". [2] "It's like a little movie, doing what I always do with genres, which is to use them kind of like paint. I use various genres and grind them against each other. I like to put a flamenco song next to a song that's a glam rock song next to a song that's a swing song, so that the flavor changes." [3]

Like most of the Daddies' previous albums, Susquehanna is written as a loose concept album. Described by Perry as a portrait of "various relationships in decay", each song deals with memories, all written in the format of an abstract narrative following a character in the aftermath of a broken relationship. [4] Perry has summarized Susquehanna as being about "losses and continuing on. It's about love, doubt and fatigue...and ultimately about gratitude". [5]

Production history

News of a new Daddies studio album first surfaced in mid-2006 during a radio interview with Steve Perry. He confirmed that a new album was in the process of being written and would cover some new territory for the band, drawing on Latin, tropical and reggae sounds, though it would contain a few swing tracks as well. [6] Most of this new material was debuted during the band's 2006 US tour. On February 9, 2007, the band released a collection of demo songs available for purchase: the reggae-tinged "Blood Orange Sun", the Latin-inspired "Bust Out", and the flamenco ballad "Roseanne".

According to a blog on the band's official MySpace page, recording began on the 25th of June. By September 5, the record was finally tracked but not fully mixed, and given the title Susquehanna, after the river near where Perry grew up (up until then, the album went under a number of working titles, including Truth & Consequences and The Good Things). Perry confirmed that there were 12 tracks on the album, and that they were "...all part of the same story..... does that make it a rock opera, concept album or just a bunch of stuff that happened?" [7]

Susquehanna was released via digital download through the Daddies' website on February 19, 2008, before being made available in a limited CD pressing on June 10, 2008. Both formats of the album were available to purchase exclusively through the band's website until their signing to independent label Rock Ridge Music in 2009, when Susquehanna was re-issued and given national distribution on September 29, 2009, in conjuncture with the Daddies' ska compilation Skaboy JFK .

Response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk 86% [8]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
PopMatters (2008)4/10 [10]
PopMatters (2009)8/10 [11]

Critical reception of Susquehanna ranged from mixed to positive. While its low-profile release went mostly unnoticed by major media outlets, various internet publications were polarized over the album's multi-genre format, either praising the band for their musical experimentation or criticizing them as inconsistent. AbsolutePunk.net awarded the album an 86% rating, stating "there are only good things to say about the Cherry Poppin' Daddies new album", calling it "full of fun and surprisingly entertaining". [8] Metro Spirit delivered most of the praise on Perry's "secret weapon" voice, adding "being backed by a blistering horn section and hotshit guitar player certainly doesn’t hurt either". [12] Blogcritics also gave the album a positive review, describing it as "pleasurable listening", [13] and in a later re-reviewing of the re-release, lauded the album's narrative concept and lyrical interconnectedness as an "amazing undertaking". [14]

On the opposite end of the critical spectrum, Allmusic gave Susquehanna a rating of 3.5/5, claiming that it lacked "oomph or punch" and the band ultimately "leave[s] the listener with little pop". [9] Reax Music Magazine noted that the only tunes the reviewer felt succeeded were the ones that stuck to the band's original swing formula, [15] while PopMatters called Perry's songwriting attempts at being multi-genre "jumbled", "smug" and "flat-out overstuffed", though praising "Hi and Lo" as being "absolutely extraordinary". [10] In a 2009 re-review by a separate author, the album was given a score of 8/10, citing the blend of genres as "the truest overall representation of the band" and the Daddies' "best work so far". [11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Steve Perry

No.TitleLength
1."Bust Out"4:08
2."The Mongoose and the Snake"3:20
3."Hi and Lo"3:39
4."Blood Orange Sun"3:20
5."White Trash Toodle-oo"2:39
6."Julie Grave"3:24
7."Roseanne"3:10
8."Hammerblow"3:00
9."Tom the Lion"4:08
10."Wingtips"4:10
11."Breathe"4:00
12."The Good Things"3:40
13."Arráncate"4:07
Total length:45:25

Previous availability

Personnel

Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Additional musicians
Production

Related Research Articles

<i>Ferociously Stoned</i> 1990 studio album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Ferociously Stoned is the debut album by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released in November 1990 on Sub Par Records. It was subsequently re-released on the Daddies' own independent label Space Age Bachelor Pad Records in 1994.

<i>Rapid City Muscle Car</i> 1994 studio album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Rapid City Muscle Car is the second studio album by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released in 1994 on Space Age Bachelor Pad Records.

<i>Kids on the Street</i> 1996 studio album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Kids on the Street is the third studio album by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released in 1996 on Space Age Bachelor Pad Records.

<i>Soul Caddy</i> 2000 album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Soul Caddy is the fourth studio album by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released on October 3, 2000 by Mojo Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Poppin' Daddies</span> American swing and ska band

The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are an American swing and ska band established in Eugene, Oregon, in 1989. Formed by singer-songwriter Steve Perry and bassist Dan Schmid, the band has experienced numerous personnel changes over the course of its 30-year history, with only Perry, Schmid and trumpeter Dana Heitman currently remaining from the original founding lineup.

<i>Zoot Suit Riot</i> (album) 1997 compilation album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Zoot Suit Riot: The Swingin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies is a compilation album by the American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released on March 18, 1997, by Space Age Bachelor Pad Records. The album is a collection of swing and jazz-influenced songs from the band's first three studio albums, along with four bonus tracks recorded especially for this compilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Perry (Oregon musician)</span> American musician (born 1963)

Stephen Henry Perry is an American musician, best known as lead singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist for the Oregon ska-swing band Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoot Suit Riot (song)</span> 1997 single by Cherry Poppin Daddies

"Zoot Suit Riot" is a song by the American ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, written by vocalist and frontman Steve Perry for the band's 1997 compilation album of the same name on Mojo Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dustin Lanker</span> American keyboardist (born 1976)

Dustin Ross Lanker is an American keyboardist, known for his work as a member of the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and the ska punk band the Mad Caddies, as well as the singer-songwriter for the rock trio The Visible Men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Schmid</span> American musician (born 1962)

Daniel Joseph Schmid is an American musician, known for his work as the bassist and co-founder of the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Schmid was also part of the rock duo the Visible Men, and has worked with alternative rock musicians such as Black Francis and Pete Yorn.

<i>Skaboy JFK</i> 2009 compilation album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Skaboy JFK: The Skankin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies is the second compilation album by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. The album was released in September 2009 by Rock Ridge Music. Like Zoot Suit Riot (1997), Skaboy JFK is a collection of the band's ska material, compiling tracks from their first five studio albums with four new bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Light Boogie</span> 2000 single by Cherry Poppin Daddies

"Diamond Light Boogie" is a song by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies on their 2000 album Soul Caddy. It was the first and only single released off Soul Caddy and the Daddies' fourth and final single to be released by Mojo Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Moss (musician)</span> American musician (born 1969)

Jason David Moss is an American musician, known for his work as the lead guitarist for the ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, of which he was a member from 1992 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Poppin' Daddies discography</span>

The discography of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, a Eugene, Oregon-based ska-swing band, consists of nine studio albums, two compilation albums, five singles and three demo EPs, among other releases.

Brooks Richard Brown is an American saxophonist, known for his work as a former member of the Eugene, Oregon band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, which he co-founded with Steve Perry and Dan Schmid.

<i>White Teeth, Black Thoughts</i> 2013 studio album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

White Teeth, Black Thoughts is the sixth studio album by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released on July 16, 2013, on Space Age Bachelor Pad Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Love American Music</span> 2013 single by Cherry Poppin Daddies

"I Love American Music" is a song by American swing-ska band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released as the first and only single off their 2013 studio album White Teeth, Black Thoughts. Released digitally on May 20, 2013, "I Love American Music" marked the Daddies' first single since "Diamond Light Boogie" in 2000.

<i>Please Return the Evening</i> 2014 studio album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Please Return the Evening — the Cherry Poppin' Daddies Salute the Music of the Rat Pack is a tribute album and seventh studio album by American ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released on July 29, 2014 by Space Age Bachelor Pad Records.

<i>The Boop-A-Doo</i> 2016 studio album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

The Boop-A-Doo is the eighth studio album and tenth album overall by American ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, released on January 22, 2016 by Space Age Bachelor Pad Records.

<i>Bigger Life</i> 2019 album by Cherry Poppin Daddies

Bigger Life is the ninth studio album and eleventh album overall by American ska-swing band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, independently released on Space Age Bachelor Pad Records on June 14, 2019.

References

  1. Wardyn, Tim (February 2009). "Cherry Poppin' Daddies". Ink19.com. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  2. "Hi and Lo". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  3. Salvia, Vanessa (24 April 2008). "Latin Lover". Eugene Weekly. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  4. Fitzpatrick, Brian (September 25, 2009). "Music Review: Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Susquehanna". Blogcritics . www.blogcritics.com]. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  5. Perry, Steve. The Official CPD Website. 2008.
  6. Maxim, Bryce (Apr. 8, 2006). Interview with Steve Perry (audio). WMLB AM 1160, Backstage Atlanta.
  7. Perry, Steve (Sep. 5, 2007). Official Website Update. Daddies.com
  8. 1 2 Frances, Susan. 'Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Susquehanna' AbsolutePunk.net October 1, 2008.
  9. 1 2 MacNeil, Jason. allmusic (( Susquehanna > Overview )) Allmusic.com. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  10. 1 2 Sawdey, Evan. The Cherry Poppin' Daddies - 'Susquehanna' www.popmatters.com. June 10, 2008
  11. 1 2 Loar, Christel. 'Music Review: Cherry Poppin' Daddies' www.popmatters.com. November 17, 2009.
  12. Ruffin, Josh. 'Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Susquehanna' Metro Spirit . August 2008.
  13. Provine, Jeff. Music Review: Susquehanna BlogCritics. August 1, 2008.
  14. Fitzpatrick, Brian. Music Review: Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Susquehanna BlogCritics. September 25, 2009.
  15. Shaw, George. 'Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Susquehanna' www.reaxmusic.com. April 7, 2008.