Rating: NNNN
Somewhere between nu jazz, wan UK soul and that particular type of near-reggae that white guys make lies Grand Theft Bus. It’s almost impossible to figure out what this band is trying to do, except, maybe, get groovy with it the way the Shuffle Demons used to. It’s actually kind of embarrassing. That’s unfortunate, because there are some interesting moves on the album – weird instrumental ambling that displays a level of musicianship spoiled by the treatment. And GTB don’t shy away from bold songwriting either. The attempt to evoke a warped psychological state in Insane Man’s Mind is impressively daring, if not entirely successful. I have no doubt that GTB will keep on truckin’.
Grand Theft Bus truck into the El Mocambo Saturday (May 15).