TONY C & THE TRUTH
Demonophonic Blues
Lava Records

Some would call Tony C & The Truth the Vin Diesel rock of the new millennium. Steeped in bass-heavy, low rider thump, the Brooklyn boys bring every ounce of sex, rock and urban slang to the game. With his Tom Waits voice and his Kid Rock delivery Tony C has fine-tuned hip-hop hard-rock with a snarling, steady, street swagger. Raised on three chords and an Elvis picture book, Mr. C has found camaraderie with a subterranean group of city thugs that knocked around quarter-house beats with AC/DC riffs. The autobiographical tale of “Who I Am” sets the record on course as C’s thick voice unapologetically echoes, “I fought the demon and I wear the scars and who I am is who I are.”

In fact, inner-city, home spun lyrics fills every inch of Demonophonic Blues with such classic quotes as “I’ll be talkin’ trash while I’m smackin’ that ass,” and “the pussy always comes when I call” (Little Bit More) – making for some gritty party music with a nod to the playful. Yet it’s the band’s ability to change gears from the truck-driving Southern grove in “Get It Made” to the full on metal cover of the Beastie Boys “Fight For You Right”. Bar room moments like the Latin-tinged “Good Lookin’ More” and the Skynyrd “One 4 The Road” break up the Country slag that seems to permeate each ballad from “No Pain” and “Gravity” to the intro to “Ball & Chain”. An innovative offbeat record that once it finds its way into your player may stay a long, long time.

Website: Lava Records, Tony C & the Truth


Todd Smith, http://www.thecutting-edge.net