Sportsmen (Chris von Sneidern) – Spirited

Description

Format: CD
Label: Kool Kat Musik
Catalogue: PURR 2002
Barcode: 8 07135 26322 1
Country: US
Year: 2002

Condition: New

US import. The Sportsmen are a “side project” for Chris Von Sneidern.

01. Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky
02. I Feel Good
03. When It Goes Around
04. Truth
05. She’s Looking Good
06. Boogaloo Down Broadway
07. Get It Good
08. Put The Money In The Hole
09. Clock On The Wall
10. Miracle
11. Single Man
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The Sportsmen are a “side project” for Chris Von Sneidern – happily this isn’t a euphemism for “self-indulgent hobby”.

What this band does is give Chris the chance to nip out of his usual power pop pool and swim in some looser, funkier, r&b and soul-stained waters.

Five of the ten tunes are covers of songs by the likes of Allen Toussaint and Naomi Neville, which give a good idea of where this band are coming from.

Having said this the opener, Toussaint’s ‘Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky’ doesn’t really do a lot for me. The next two tunes, Neville’s ‘I Feel Good’ and ‘When It Goes Around’, a Von Sneidern original, are excellent.

Although CVS writes the five originals here, the impression is of a band, not CVS and some sidemen. Rob Douglas, (bass), Dave Gleason, (guitar), Khai Huyth, (electric piano), and Derek Ritchie, (drums), slip easily into a good groove.

Although CVS says he wanted to “do something that was less confined than the narrow genre of power pop”, he can’t conceal his pop inclinations, and some of the songs would sit happily on his solo recordings.

CVS sings really well, and is strong and convincing throughout. The overall feel is of a good time, New Orleans style. This CD was originally a limited Japan –only release in 1999, but this version comes with an extra song.

Phil Suggitt
/Shindig!