SOUND THE ALARM!!!

LA is buzzing with a continuance of new and exciting fresh music styles. One thing I can honestly say, I am proud to be a Native Angeleno musician who loves other LA bands, whether or not they were originated here. Unlike most places that I've been in the USA, live musicians support each other here. One band gets off the stage; the next band up gives hearty props to those who performed before. When I go out and see a band I 've never seen before, I get excited. I love to see potential in a band or an artist. I also love to see longevity. It's so hard to keep groups together for long because our lives get in the way so much. Like UFD, my band, didn't get bit by that bug until our 10-11th year. So to see a band like CONJOB live at the Gig a month or so ago, it was real treat to see some fresh music from a band that obviously have been around for a while. And if the band hasn't been around a while, the musicians are seasoned and sharp. So I decided to write a review of Conjob's demo CD. I didn't interview them so I can't give you some tidbits behind the songs. Only what I feel when I listen to them. But I do love it and I think you will too.

Everybody Be Cool!  Such a perfect sentiment for an industry that is everything but. The music is a clean mixture of funk rock pop and a smattering of Reggaeton beats that absolutely creates a new and fresh SoCal sound. Zha, (lead vocals) is a beautiful and vibrant alto vocalist. She's able to be just as sweet and serene as she is tough and grinding. I am impressed with the versatility of the band members; the beautiful Vicky on keyboards is a perfect compliment vocally for Zha and only enhances the grooves with piano and synth accents. Everybody Be Cool takes you on a short journey from the party beginning to the socially conscious ending.

SOUND THEE ALARM opens the disc with a party flavor that features the sultry vocals. It also hits hard with the dark-tones of MC Warbux busting out rhymes with fever. If you close your eyes you get the feeling your about to walk in on a serious party for serious party people. Hot! Then it that song is followed by the title track, EVERYBODY BE COOL which is an awesome little acopella chant that gets you in the mood for a positive evening. In between you hear the dance tunes like GOODNIGHT AT LAST, which will not only make you want to meet Zha and find out she's up to this evening, it will make you visually see her getting ready to go out and have some fun. She gets you there vocally. Draws you in like a magnet. And the subject matter is simple; she ain't looking for nothing serious. Just something to get by for the night. I literally get tickled when songwriting is fused to create a picture of a scene. And moreover, this song is a perfect mixture of pop rock and dance with that splash of reggaeton I mentioned earlier.

A good example of music painting pictures is MISS SUMMERTIME(2006MIX). I don't know what the other mix was, but I dig this one. If you know anything about SoCal, the heat can get you feeling a little low and high at the same time. Or should I say slow and fly? This tunes puts you in the mindset of heat looking to stick on something hot! I'll keep on shining for you, she says. One can only dream. Conjob's bio says something about mixing Pink with Tina Turner. In my opinion, that can't touch the originality of Zha's voice. How do you combine power with emotion? It is a God given gift. And it's something I've been working on for over twenty years. To Zha in Miss Summertime, it comes naturally.

My favorite song and in my opinion the best cut on the disc is TANGERINE. Driving monster bass line by Carp, that digs while it builds. Sharp cuts with the guitar give a metal-funk feel to it. Nice job DJ! There is nothing better than tightness with a band. When you have a hole, fill it with silence as well as with licks. Conjob uses that technique brilliantly with a song that rocks like this one does. If that wasn't enough, Kevin on drums, slaps you with a multitude of styles but never leaves you hanging. Sharp reggaeton beats mixed with hard-hitting rock choruses and a 16 beat high hat dance groove on the bridge. Anyone with a mildly good voice would sound like a rock star with this band behind them. Instead Zha breaks out in full Pat Benetar with soul-like vocals. The Chorus and Bridge are well constructed and that to me is what writing good music should be about. If you haven't heard it yet, I suggest you get out to a show and check it out. If there is a hit on their album, my money is on this song.

Versatile I said? You gotta respect the nicer dulcet sounds on the disc as well such as SUGAR SWEET and SPLENDOR. Sugar Sweet takes me back to the eighth grade for some reason. I think because that's when I started getting serious about chasing girls. I mean I chased them before then but not in the same way. There is a nice change of pace to it, adding a sense of adult innocence in the subject matter. Splendor almost gives off the same emotion but in a more adult way. I like to think of it as a cool traveling song. Nice groove, harmonies are tight and sweet. You really can't help but to smile when you hear it. I wish the song were a little longer and at the end. It's kind of a parenthetical song where you could turn off the radio and still hum the melody quietly to yourself.

Each song shows the power of being eclectic in the music world today. COAST OF DESPERADO babeh,  is the one tune you can rap along with if you have skills like that. Warbux again drives home a clear picture of how this young woman hooked on addiction looks. Can't say I don't know what that's like. But in this song I can identify with the person Conjob is singing about, even if I didn't get caught up on that shit.  I can only hope he was describing someone real, because I felt it when I heard it, bruh!  MC Warbux tears it up, but only with the vocal enhancement of a raspy voiced Zha illustrating the pain of the woman in the song. Vicky's haunting melody on the keyboards only adds to the picture. As you can see I'm big on images of music. If you can paint me a picture in my mind, then you've got a good song in all respects. It's all about the communication. Hear it, feel it, see it! The CD ends with a special surprise with one of the coolest college rock tunes I've heard in years called Zombie Pharm. (sp?) Yea don't turn off the CD thinking it's over because it's NOT. J All I can really say about that tune is that it was fun to listen to. And too bad it was hidden in the back seat.

All of the tracks deal with roughly the same subject matter which if I was to critize, (and I am not one to do that), I suspect their next CD will have more of a variety of subjects to talk about. I personally can't wait.)   The CD was well produced and I'd love to give out that info, but I don't have it. (CONJOB hit me back with that info in case your produce is looking for some business.)  Have I given you enough to talk about? Check out CONJOB at The Derby on Los Feliz and Hillhurst, Hollywood - Friday Dec. 8,  2006 at 9pm or Sunday Dec. 10 at the Avalon on Vine in Hollywood for the BODOG Battle of the Bands. I'm sure they'll win that. Either way, stay tuned. CONJOB: http://www.purevolume.com/conjob. info@conjobmusic.com  www.conjobmusic.com www.myspace.com/conjob 4023 W. 6^th St. LA, CA 90020