MUSIC MATTERS REVIEW, August 2007

_John Lisi & Delta Funk—Dead Cat Bounce_2007, 219 Records__

John Lisi is a genuine guitar hero, playing funky rock and roll. It's been a while since somebody had the nerve to stand front and center and wail on his ax for a whole album without running out of steam, but Lisi has the audacity to pull it off. He's backed by Jimbo Mathus on bass and Cody Dickinson on drums—guys who can tear it up when they're called on, and stay out of the way when they're not. The songs were recorded in a couple of takes in the studio and crackle with energy. The lyrics with a few exceptions are far from memorable, but who cares—these guys are kickin'. —Michael Devlin