G Love & Special Sauce
Superhero Brother
Release Date: Jun 24, 2008
Genre(s): Rock, Rap
Record label: Brushfire
Music Critic Score
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Album Review: Superhero Brother by G Love & Special Sauce
Average, Based on 3 Critics
Based on rating 6/10
Superhero Brother sees G. Love & Special Sauce pulling back on the guest appearances from their last two albums and just focusing on the core group, now including Mark Boyce on keys. They still cover a lot of bases musically, from the classic rock moves of "Communication" to the New Orleans second-line rhythm on the chorus of "Peace, Love and Happiness." A bit of beatboxing introduces "What We Need," while "Wontcha Come Home" almost sounds like an old Paul Simon song.
Based on rating 2/5
G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE Superhero Brother (Brushfire) Rating: NN The Special Sauce sounds and tastes exactly like I expect, for better and worse: some Jack Johnsonish earnestness delivered pseudo-rap-style over standard Philly blues band grooves. To be fair, I'm sure there's a sizable contingent of G. Lovers who seek three-verse-and-chorus song structures, eight-bar bridges and pop-radio-simple choruses, and there is a string of spirited ditties in the second half of the album.
Opinion: Very Good
Garrett Dutton's 14-year career has seen many hammocks, and the Philadelphonic G. Love's first LP with backing band Special Sauce since 2001's Electric Mile keeps it as laid-back as one's come to expect from this Superhero Brother. With no thrills or spills on its journey through Dutton's ideologies ("What We Need," "Superhero Brother"), a now-threepiece Special Sauce (former Boss Hog keyboardist Mark Boyce's addition is official) slinks and sways on its traditionally level medium.