On Rhythm & Blueprints:
If one is looking for a mainstream Blues album than this one may not be what is expected. This album is not one "Blues" tune after another. Most stay within the boundaries of the Blues genre, though some are just barely within the boundaries. This is a key attraction to the band, they have something new and entertaining around each bend. The Renovators take the listener on a musical journey of the melodic structure they've renovated just for the listener. Entering each song the listener gets the opportunity to visit familiar, not shocking, melodies that have gone through a renovation and now shine with a new vibrance and beauty. Another tool that these musical renovators use with skill is a unique sense of humor. The lyrics are skillfully crafted using double meaning word play as an art in itself. If The Renovators fail to bring a smile and a song in your heart, they can recommend a counselor. He may tell you that it's been done, but never as well as The Renovators. So give up, give in, and groove to Rhythm & Blueprints, it WILL change the way you think of Blues forever. This album got an excellent rating right down the line. Some of the songs were of a caliber that they could have been graded higher, but we have excellent as the highest possible grade, for this we apologize to The Renovators and our readers.
- Larry, Downeast Reviews
For complete review, including reviews of every song, click HERE
This is what happens when true talent gets the freedom in the studio to record good, great, and FUN music. A super-high quality recording that really covers the Blues map well, this independent release this independent release is as good or better than the major label Blues. Masterfully recorded, performed and written, the upbeat tunes (particularly "Renovator's Boogie") are KILLER. Guitar players note: THICK Fender tones ahead; the Renovators are coming!
Renegade Newsletter
May 2000
Intro/general thoughts: The Renovators are a four-man blues-rock band who are carpenters and contractors by day and great musicians at night. Their music is influenced by their career roots, and provides some innovative musical styles and topics. It is also responsible for their total image of hard-working rockers who enjoy building houses, playing the blues, and sex.
Notable: These guys are truly an international band, with their music heard on radio stations in Canada, France, Spain, Australia, England, Germany, and Alaska.
Highs: The Renovators have a great sense of humor, and put it in their music. From the double entendre'd and titillating, "The Big One," to the dream-dashing "It's Been Done" to their day-job appropriate "Bandaido."
Lows: I honestly have no complaints about the band. They played 54 minutes of solid blues-rock with great production, excellent songwriting, and superb musicianship. What can I complain about, except that there's nothing to complain about?
Favorite Lines: An excellent example of The Renovators humor -- at times they're dirty and overt, at other times they're subtle and dry, as in "It's Been Done." So I went to my therapist of the last twenty years She had cured my addition to sex and dark beers Eight hours a day for two years we consulted I was trying my best, but no progress resulted.
Fans: If you love Albert Collins, Robert Cray, BB King, Elwood Splinters Blues Band, or even the Blues Persuaders (reviewed right here on Indie-Music.com!), you need to check out The Renovators.
Indie-Notes: The Renovators are the first band I've ever seen to have full-color advertisements in their CD cover. Presumably they did it to help underwrite their printing and recording costs. The cover also incorporates their carpenter day jobs and sense of humor into the overall package they're promoting. Very creative and memorable.
Summary: In the grand old style of today's modern blues and blues-rock, The Renovators provide a fresh feel for the music. Their music is influenced by, but not copied from, bands that are enjoying a revival on blues radio throughout the country. If there's a blues station in your area, call them and ask them why the hell they're not playing The Renovators.
Erik Deckers
Indie-Music.com
http://www.indie-music.com/reviews/168.htm
Calling neighbors KISM & KMTT! Rhythmic blues boys The Renovators have one very AAA-friendly record with "Who's To Blame?" adding a dash of jazzy salsa blues that you just gotta share! The thought provoking familiarity of "Never Really Saw Your Face" makes The Renovators Rhythm & Blueprints a seller waiting to be sold!
Get Fancy
February, 2000
***** A fantastic, intelligent "blueprint" of where blues is now.
I can't remember the last time I heard anything this enjoyable! Funny, rockin', intelligent, roosty yet sophisticated, the Renovators have renovated this listener. I want more bands to sound as natural as these guys! Great songs, great topics, terrific quirky recipe of the right lyric and note at the right time. I've heard Rhythm and Blueprints at least a dozen times and still want more...I want more of these guys!!!!!!!
Reviewer: Matpix@javenet.com
from Portland, Maine
September 11, 1999
The Renovators are good-time blues-rockers from downstate New York who specialize in comical tunes. Rhythm & Blueprints is a clever release that’s part blues, part classic rock.
The band’s name alludes to guitarist Bob Rasero’s non-musical occupation: When he’s not playing guitar, Rasero renovates buildings. The remaining Renovators are also known for outside ventures: Brothers Ted (drums) and Al Hemberger (bass, vocals) own and operate The Loft Recording Studios in Bronxville, N.Y.. Bob Mayo is Peter Frampton’s longtime keyboardist, and he's also worked with sundry other classic rockers, including Aerosmith, Foreigner and Robert Plant.
The Renovators favor catchy boogie riffs and witty wordplay. Though the tunes "It’s Been Done" and "I Don’t Ski" are a bit too flip for me, the remaining songs on Rhythm & Blueprints hit the spot. Especially funny is "The Big One," a ditty that likens fishing to sex. I’ll leave it to you to decipher the real message from these lyrics: "I cast my plug at my favorite hole/And felt a tug at my fishin’ pole/My bobber’s bobbin’/My rod is wobblin’/Feels like the big one!"
Instrumentally, the Renovators incorporate a wider variety of styles than your average blues-rock outfit. "Rip Up The House" and "Excavator" are raucous rockers. "Everybody Loves the Blues" has an irresistible gospel groove. Led by Rasero's blazing guitar, the band stretches out on the surf-blues instrumental "Bandaido" and the atmospheric Hendrix-like "I Keep Dreaming." "Who's To Blame" has a slow Latin groove, while "You Snooze, You Lose" offers a swing beat. The band even tries its hand at a reggae-calypso hybrid on "Blue Reggae."
It takes creative musicians to write infectious tunes, and it takes creative minds to write genuinely funny lyrics. The Renovators accomplish both on Rhythm & Blueprints.
Rating: *** (out of ****)
By Ed Kopp
AllAboutJazz.com
Popcorn Music Reviews
The Renovators
Rhythm & Blue Prints
Die Renovators sind eine absolut lustige Truppe, die sich reichlich wenig um traditionelle Formen des Blues schert. Hier geht schlichtweg die Post ab. Rhythm'n'Blues mit Rock'nRoll, etwas Country und viel, viel Tempo. Die Jungs feiern schlichtweg eine groBe Party und das ohne Kompromisse. Klar, daB dabei ein bisweilen etwas rockiger Sound zum Tragen kommt. Macht aber nichts, gehort alles zum Blues und auf jede gute Feier. Lediglich die drei letzten der insgesamt dreizehn Songs passen nicht so richtig ins Konzept und verhindern die volle Punktzahl. (df)
Blues News Magazine
Germany
The first comment about this release, worthy of being mentioned is the cover artwork and notes. Apart from containing all the lyrics, each page seems to be sponsored, with a photo and contact info for each business, ranging from the local market, auto shop, building supplies, to the local plumber, etc., etc. An impressive concept indeed.
Now on with the CD content, The Renovators obviously appear to enjoy the comical side of life, judging by the tongue in cheek lyrics, which are definitely a breath of fresh air from the myriad's of 'Since my baby left me' type lyrics that are very common place.
The tongue in cheek stays with the lyrics, with the musical content being of a high standard showing that these fellas know their stuff. Great vocals and backing harmonies, layered on a strong groove in the opening track "Rip Up The House" progressing to a jivin’ - rockin’ - rollin’ track in "Everybody Loves The Blues." Fishing buffs will relate to the somewhat comical "The Big One" which has a great Motown swing feel and great keyboard layers infused with cool lead guitar licks. I love the structure and this track is certainly one that will hook you.
"Who's To Blame?" drops the pace down a notch and an interesting Spanish caramba influence weeps through in this great song about love gone wrong. "Renovator's Boogie" is a scorching instrumental with catchy riffs and great guitar breaks. "It's Been Done" is a tongue in cheek ditty about those 'new' ideas that have already made their way into society. Another great jivin’ groove in "Something Else" leading to "Bandaido" - a great hard driving instrumental.
A cool acoustic slide finger pickin’ build up in "Never Really Saw Your Face" before the band kicks in about halfway through the track. Great piano intro and layers in "You Snooze, You Lose" with a hot walking bass line, and then the band hits back hard with "Special Ride" before an emotional intro to "Blue Reggae" - which reminds me a lot of Ry Cooder at his best as those Caribbean sounds are infused with a modern ballad style. One of my favorite tracks on the album. More tongue in cheek with "I Don't Ski" which has a slight John Lee Hooker influence creeping through. I would have sworn that I was listening to Pink Floyd as the opening strains of "I Keep Dreaming" built up and progressed with awesome guitar work and vocals, this track showcasing the many influences and abilities within this band. Finally the CD concludes with the neat trance like intro to "Excavator" which builds to a hard driving sizzle.
This is one heck of a CD, a wide variety of styles and definitely not your usual run of the mill blues album. In fact, I would consider this to be above standard and in a way could be described as a cheeky but provocative journey, exploring some of the outer boundaries of the blues, yet maintaining the inner elements. Go get it, there are sound samples on The Renovators website (see link below)...check them out. This is one band that I would love to see live, if we could get them to Australia.
Hiya Al,
one mighty fine CD you have there, I really love it...thanks a zillion for the chance to review....review is now up online...all we have to do now is hope to see you in Australia sometime...you'd slay em here.. cheers,
Radar
--
MARK 'radar' WATSON (Mr Blues)
MR BLUES ONLINE HAVEN
If anyone else ever has mounted this particular scheme for paying their recording bills I've never heard of it. The CD booklet is a 16-page color brochure on which appear ads for a dozen businesses in Maine and New York. My guess is that, in exchange for the pictures of their work places and the accompanying testimonials ("When the Renovators want ice cream they..."), these businesses put up the dough for the Renovators to record and press Rhythm & Blueprints. And you thought the Republicans and Democrats knew all the fund-raising tricks... Yeah, but the music is good, better even than last year's Sheetrock the House, because the Renovators have played together longer. The 15 songs on Rhythm are lighter and hold up better.
The Renovators particularly bear listening to, because they're equally adept at straight blues rock and its more humorous cousin. Yes, you are allowed to laugh while singing or listening to the blues, and the Renovators do an excellent job turning just the right phrase to hit the funny bone. They open with "Rip Up the House," words generally uttered to indicate that the band is having a good night but in the case of carpenter/band leader Bob Rasero an obvious double entendre. Likewise "The Big One," an erstwhile fishing tale that takes on a more lewd tone when read closely. "You Snooze You lose," "It's Been Done" and "I Don't Ski" follow in the same vein.
Want something more serious? Step into the rockin' blues of the instrumental "Renovator's Boogie" or the sweet, slow "Who's to Blame" on which either Rasero or Bob Mayo lays down some very tasty guitar. (Brothers Al and Ted Hemberger complete the group on bass and drums respectively.) There's a joshing tone to "Never Really Saw Your Face," but that slide acoustic opening screams serious Delta blues.
Regardless of how they got Rhythm and Blueprints on the street, the Renovators have made a tasty, fun and funky record.
- Face Magazine
Portland, Maine, October,1999
A US based band whose last release I reviewed not so long back, The Renovators ply their trade in older styles like the rhythm & blues as performed by people like Little Richard, John Lee Hooker, BB King & the like, though definitely with their own stamp on things as well as having some of their own input & newer sounds as well.
The album takes a good hard look back at what others have done & seeks to better it, with classic sounding tracks like "Everybody Loves The Blues", which draws on decades of blues history & the popularity of the blues with some great guitar work.
An interesting inclusion here is the surf style guitar instrumental of "Bandaido", one of my favourites from the album, which sits perfectly in this company alongside great highlights such as the rather eclectic pacing of "I Don't Ski" & the countryish "Never Really Saw Your Face". The band have already achieved quite some success in getting airplay & with the release of this album, surely it will only improve.
- Terry Allen, hEARd Webzine, Australia
Hi, Al - Been playing your new one and it's a good 'un. Especially like the last track "Excavator". A novel idea with the sleeve notes as well!
- Geoff Pegler, BluesBeat
Al, Your CD is fantastic. It's incredibly varied with really funny lyrics & has a nice up-front sound about it. You guys should get more recognition. It's one of the best I've heard this year, and I hear lots of 'em - believe me! I can't thank you enough for sending it my way. I intend to give it plenty of airplay & it will definitely be on my best of '99 show between Xmas & New Years. I can't decide which cuts I want to air first next week!
- Al Kirkcaldy, Blue In The Face
Hi, Al! The Renovators' CD arrived last week, and I've had the chance to give it a good listen. Made its debut on the program last night, and will continue to get airings on JuzBlooz! Great CD. Are you guys the "Tim the Toolmen" of the blues world or what??!! You oughta do a version of Leadbelly's "Take this hammer"!
- Martin Dunstan, JuzBlooz
The Renovators are four-piece from Bronxville, New York. This is their second album and it's a real goodie. I find it hard to dislike a band who let the sponsorship go so rampant that the CD booklet even tells you where they buy their ice cream, who can write a blues that begins, "I was talking to my career counselor via e-mail," and who can be so retro, so contemporary, and so original all at the same time.
Not content with confining themselves to straight blues, (though there are a few tunes leaning towards the more sensible side of blues-rock) everything is blues-based. There are nods to many musical genres of the fifti es and sixties, from the heavy surf guitar instrumental "Bandaido", the rockabilly styled "Renovator's Boogie", the old time Rock 'n' Roll of "Something Else" and the jazz-blues of "You Snooze, You Lose" to a Hendrix-y ballad in "I Keep Dreamin'", the late sixties rock of "Special Ride" and the only less than excellent track, "Blue Reggae", which is singer/songwriter stuff with a Caribbean lilt. Elsewhere these guys show they know how to tear the house down with some jumping blues, and put a smile on your face as they do it. Yep, they can even write some genuinely witty material - take a listen to "I Don't Ski." It doesn't bother me that I don't either but I can certainly appreciate the sentiment.
About the nearest I can come to this lot is Little Charlie & The Nightcats - but I doubt that Charlie & Co. could knock you up a conservatory with the same style as these guys (sorry, you'll just have to check the CD booklet).
Rating: 9
- Norman Darwen, Blue Print Magazine, UK
A nice set of dyed-in-the wool, gutsy barroom blues played by a set of talented vets. The Renovators are best at straight-ahead blues/rock, but they demonstrate an impressive versatility, covering the entire spectrum of rhythm and blues: from country and rockabilly to jazz-inflected tunes. Fans of Blues will find this CD thoroughly enjoyable.
- Jim Esch, Orange Street Press
On Sheetrock the House:
Sheetrock 'n' Roll
The problem with blues-rock isn't the lack of originality. It's the insincere attitude. One can picture practitioners of the genre performing with a smirk, and afterwards telling the audience, "I really don't feel that bad."
Bob Rasero and the Renovators are a very talented group of blues-rockers. (The ensemble was recently named semifinalists in Musician Magazine's 1998 "Best Unsigned Band Contest.") But it's their ability to keep their smirking in check for most of their soon-to-be-released new CD that makes "Sheetrock the House" better than most similar offerings.
Though the title promises plenty of smarmy attitude, and the first song, "Born That Way," delivers on that, the album soon settles into a more agreeable groove. The reggae-tinged "Try Givin' Some Love" sets the tone: well-written songs, professionally performed with a heartfelt delivery. Still, Rasero and the Renovators aren't overly passionate, and their desire to go for laughs occasionally gets the better of them. (Worst offender: "MTV," a stale satire that would have been an anachronism 10 years ago.) But the group is one of the few blues-rock outfits that seems motivated by what's in its members' souls.
www.egosurf.com
July, 1998
"PICK OF THE MONTH - With song titles such as 'Funky Jungle Love,' 'Flying Butress,' and 'Don't You Want a Walrus?' it's quite possible the average conusmer might have some clue as to w