Album Review: “The Budos Band III” by The Budos Band

Artist: The Budos Band
Album: The Budos Band III
Label: Daptone Records
Rating: 9.8/10

Imagine the score to the coolest ever imaginary 70s film and you have The Budos Band’s latest record.

The funky instrumental ensemble from Staten Island literally soar on track after track of the most righteous grooves I’ve heard since the first time I ever listened to the “Shaft” soundtrack.   

Most bands that explore retro sounds always lack something, whether it’s faulty production or inauthentic playing, but the B Band just totally NAILS it on this album. This is, as they say, the real McCoy.   If you close your eyes you’d swear you were hearing some lost classic from 30-40 years ago…. and yes that’s a GOOD thing.

Every tune just oozes the bizness.  Their four-piece percussion section provides a rock steady foundation for the alternating wah wah squonk/surf plunk guitars, snake charmer organ, and superlative horn section (occasionally ornamented by a flutter-ifically fantastic flute).

The songs shift seamlessly from the blaxpoitation grit of the opening track, “Rite of the Ancients” to the film noir, by way of Mexico, atmosphere of “Nature’s Wrath”, which features a gloriously moody trumpet break.

If ever there was a must-get this year, this is the one.  I can’t think of a better party album… Just pop this on the ole iTunes, set it on a loop and you’ve got yourself a shindig friends.

Buy it… like now.