Indie Music Stop- "Where Your Music Matters"
Steve Lieberman: The Gangsta Rabbi- Shake the Missile Base
Friday, December 21, 2007, 12:02 AM - CD Reviews
Posted by CW Ross
Artist: Steve Lieberman: The Gangsta Rabbi
Title: Shake the Missile Base
Website: http://www.gangstarabbi.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/gangstarabbi
Style: Experimental Rock
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
By Senior Writer C.W. Ross
As I listened to the CD and read about The Gangsta Rabbi my mind was sent racing. This is some very different stuff musically, that you need to set back and try slowing down your mind's thought process in order to take it all in.
The Gangsta Rabbi, also known as Steve Lieberman, is either a musical madman or genius with a vision depending on who you ask. He's had almost a dozen releases with, Shake the Missile Base , being the latest. This album is filled with 22 songs lasting over one hour that feature distorted bass guitar parts that would probably make even the most hardcore punk bands cringe.
Here's what his press material had to say about it- " He is a punk-rocker who doesn't know how to play the guitar so he plays the chords on a distorted bass from hell held upside-down and backward ."
You'll also find The Gangsta Rabbi playing a lot of flute parts in the songs which I enjoyed. I know that anybody who plays the flute is compared to Jethro Tull but I could hear a bit of that Tull flute flutter in his music.
Without a doubt this is the most lo-fi release that I've heard since I started the site. I think that some of it was wanted for effect but it went a little overboard. The recording has a tinny sound that makes trying to hear what the song's vocals are saying next to impossible unless you have the ears of a canine.
The Gangsta Rabbi's press material says that the songs deal with anti-racism and Jewish pride. Another prevalent them though seems to be suicide with several of the songs having it in the title.
This release isn't for the faint of heart or those easily offended with song titles like, "Sex Whore," and "I Masturbate."
I do give The Gangsta Rabbi credit for not being afraid to do what he wants with his music and let the chips fall where they may.
While The Gangsta Rabbi's music wasn't to my liking if you're looking for some really experimental rock and like your guitar music hardcore distorted then Shake the Missile Base is for you.
