By Nancy Correro
The Times of SWLA
Do you like the Beatles during their psychedelic Helter Skelter days? I do. And I frequently wish for the days we could bring them back. How about something better...something better than that? How about it’s a local band and they are so creative that you could ‘Get Carried Away’ and did I mention it was a local band? That is how it’s better and pretty chill. The Research Turtles look like the 60’s Beatles with their similar haircuts and ties, but this is your late 60’s Beatles on this song (thick guitar sound and all).The Research Turtles are Jud Norman on bass and vocals, Joe Norman on guitar and vocals, Logan Fontenot on guitar, and Blake Thibodeaux on drums. The self titled album was produced by Justin Tocket and engineered by Korey Richey. The album was recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, LA and mastered by Andrew Mendelson at Georgetown Masters in Nashville, TN. Damn, Mission and Break My Fall were recorded at Jungle Room Studios in Los Angeles, CA and produced by Erik Eldenius and Dilana.
Damn. No, I mean Damn this song is good. Damn is the name of the second song. I can’t help but think these guys took out all of their parent’s albums and listened to them when they were tots. This song will remind you of The Cars’ Shake it Up, You’re Just What I Needed, and My Best Friends Girl all wrapped into one song.
Mission is a catchy tune with a clever 3-2-1 hook. Perhaps not as much appeal as the first two songs on the album.
Kiss Her Goodbye is a heavy, melancholy ballad.
Cement Floor has that hittin’ the road kind of feel. Get in your car and drive with this turned up really loud and I’m thinking all of your woes will disappear. There is a nice bridge in the middle of this song with some fine bass guitar work.
The Riff Song starts with that wonderfully excellent psychedelic guitar sound in the beginning. The vocal is put through some electronics to give it that trippy, in-the-can sound. Sit back with your favorite drink and enjoy.
Tomorrow is a very sunny, warm day song. It’s carefree, telling you that ‘tomorrow will be fine.’
Into A Hole is that do-wop love ballad you know you’ve heard, but can’t think of the name.
A Feeling has a heavy percussive and guitar driving sound. It’s only ‘A Feeling’ I get, but this song has got a catchy chorus with nice harmonies.
925 is a heavy driving song from the start with more of that thick psychedelic mix of fuzzy guitar work over snare drum and sixteen figure high hat work—Fast and furious and fun.
Break My Fall is possibly the catchiest song on this album. There are many elements on many levels that are nice about this recording. The lead vocal layered with the background vocals during the chorus are a nice touch. There is a break soon after the song begins with some driving guitar and percussive work then a heavy guitar solo all of which is reminiscent of some early Cream Strange Brew moments.
This is a solid album for The Research Turtles. These guys are going places. And just think Chuck, this band is from here. Everyone needs to go directly to The Research Turtles myspace page and check them out www.myspace.com/researchturtles.
I expect we will be hearing more from this group in the near future.
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