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Hailing from New York and billing themselves as "an elegantly simple rock
band with a deep commitment to improvised expression," Tycoon Dog offers "Ruff
Cuts", an independent release that is bound to make a few ears perk up.
Recorded mostly live (with a few overdubs) during rehearsals from the summer of
1999, "Ruff Cuts" offers eleven songs and a taste of Tycoon Dog's live show.
Consisting of Scott Bailey (a transplanted Southern boy) on guitar/vocals,
bassist/vocalist Billy Burtt, drummer/vocalist Peter Ray, and percussionist Santo, this
one's been around the block a couple of times and can hunt. Although the band compares
themselves to Tom Petty/Neil Young meets the Grateful Dead, I find them a little closer to
Widespread Panic meets Marc Cohn -- a definite southern rock/singer/songwriter influence
nonetheless. Bailey's voice isn't as whiskey-ridden as Cohn's or as gruff as Bell's, but
effective and distinct -- as is his thoughtful lyricism. He is also a capable lead player,
varying tones, soaring leads and flickering fills throughout. The other members of the
group are likewise solid, harmony vocals are tight and effective, with Santo's pervasive
rhythm and Burtt's bass fills fattening the sound.
The majority of the tracks are hook-laden and consistently in a mellow
groove-probably more spinning that slamming at a Tycoon Dog show. Track two, Stream,
is a bit different, a darker groove faintly reminiscent of "Slide It In"-era
Whitesnake of all things, punctuated by distinctive breaks. Every Love Song is a
thoughtful twist on the solitary individual searching for love that hits home. Piss Cup
is a ballad from a different perspective -"Ooh Piss Cup/If I can make it past
you/I'll be home free" - a reflection on the importance and idiocy of mandatory
urinalyses. The syncopated Strange varies tempo and speaks of that stuff on the
side. The jams are mostly teased throughout, until the final standout track No Regrets,
which extends into a jazzy ride stretching out over eleven minutes-some nice dual-guitar
work with guest Craig Benelli over a solid groove. Personally, I may have put this one a
bit earlier in the order -- seems a shame to have to wait so long to find out that these
guys really are a jamband. But, it did leave me wanting more.
In short, you will find something familiar and pleasing in Tycoon Dog -- something
that may resemble your emotions and moods-and you may catch yourself singing it in the
hallway. This isn't a high-energy disc that you'll want to drive fast to, but not every
one should be. You can order "Ruff Cuts" and the bands' other discs,
"Homegrown"-a living-room recording featuring tupperware/MIDI drums-and
"Seven Stories High", a collection of Bailey's acoustic tunes, from their
website.
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