Rating: 
The gorgeous voice of Kylie Auldist (which sounds better than ever on this) plus funky backing from The Bamboos on the lead single off forthcoming second LP Made Of Stone ought to be soul gold. And yet, while not underwhelmed, I’m not exactly overwhelmed by either It’s On or Made Of Stone. More, kind of…just…whelmed. So what’s up? It’s the tunes stupid! Maybe a year between albums wasn’t long enough for our Kylie? Maybe The Bamboos spread themselves too thin being – um – themselves, doing backing for Ms Auldist and a few of them moonlighting as Cookin On 3 Burners. Or maybe everyone involved on this just switched on cruise control and popped out for a stubby…who knows?
Out now on Tru Thoughts
only one of them is in cookin on 3 burners.
here at monkeyboxing we love a pedant. talking of pedantry – kylie auldist is listed on thebamboos.com as a member of the bamboos and as she averages about two tracks an album for both the bamboos and the burners, if that qualifies her as a member of the bamboos it ought to qualify her as a member of the burners too. thus the bamboos and cookin on 3 burners have two members in common. her and lance…blah, blah, blah contd. on p94
It was not pedantry. I merely was correcting a statement in the review.
If you want some though, here I go. Enjoy the facts. .
Kylie Auldist was inducted as a true ‘member’ of the Bamboos after the release of ‘Rawville’ and before the release of the album ‘Side-Stepper’. She was made a ‘member’ of the band as she has sung at every Bamboos show for most of their sets for many, many years. She has done Australian and European tours with them.
On cookin on 3 burners 1st album, Kylie auldist featured on one track only. On the new one, twice. I have seen Cookin On 3 Burners live many times over many years, and have only seen Kylie sing with them twice. Kylie is NOT in fact a member of Cookin On 3 Burners. There have also been musicians like Bruce Sandell play flute with them at many gigs and appear on 5 tracks on their last album. Does this mean that Bruce is a member?? Probably more rightly than Kylie I would say!!
Alice Russel sang on the recent Fat Freddy’s drop album – and has sung with them on a few occasions in the UK – Does that make her a member of Fat Freddy’s Drop?
We’re obviously both fans of these bands, and could perhaps agree that they are very different bands that have their own merits. One is truly one of the worlds best deep funk bands, the other a hammond trio (with extra spice!)
If there is any continuous thread between these bands, it is guitarist and producer Lance Ferguson, the hardest working musician in this land.
Now, now – don’t get all sensitive – are you Lance’s mum? I’m sure he’s a very nice man. In truth, I ‘d already conceded your point about Kylie in the ‘Soul Messin’ review. Actually – you should read it – you’ll probably hate it. I do have some niggling doubts about the internal logic of your membership argument however. You might have convinced me about Kylie’s non-membership of Cookin On 3 Burners but now you’ve raised doubts about how convincing it is to claim that she’s a proper member of The Bamboos.
Oh yeah – “agree that they are very different bands”. If you’re talking about their sound, you’re having a bubble aren’t you? I’d find it hard to think of two bands that sound more alike!
2 bands that sound more alike? Am I missing something that you are hearing
Totally different! completely different drummers and approach, err, One uses a Hammond organ, err, One doesn’t even have a bass player!, err, Different guitars used, different production, one comes from more of a Prestige era jazz approach with extended solos where the other is from a tight, funk approach with very little soloing.
I guess the Dap Kings, Sharon Jones, Bunky Griptite, Naomi Shelton and Menahan Street Band all sound alike to you too? I guess all that music on CTI sounds the same too?
I’m sorry you don’t hear the difference.
I send one comment with a correction to something stated in a review, (nothing negative) and it has stirred something up hasn’t it?. Makes for interesting reading for third parties I guess!
“Now, now – don’t get all sensitive – are you Lance’s mum?” – This is a little condescending and off track don’t you think?
Oh dear. You do seem to be getting rather exercised about points that only the worst kind of scene nerd or friend/lover/relative of someone in the band would trouble themselves with. Off-track? I don’t think so. The fact that you don’t like what has been written is neither here nor there – it’s the po-faced, humourless way you’ve gone about responding. If you want po-faced, humourless music journalism it’s out there in abundance my friend. Monkeyboxing.com has always been irreverent and always will be. It’s never been about blowing smoke up anyone’s ass. I did stay awake long enough through your rant to notice a couple of points worth responding to however:
“One uses a Hammond organ, err,” Actually they both do. And you should know that.
“One doesn’t even have a bass player!” But I referred to their ‘sound’. And the ‘Burners DO actually use bass.
“different production” So what, two producers can’t end up with a similar sound? As with these two bands?
“I guess the Dap Kings, Sharon Jones, Bunky (sic) Griptite, Naomi Shelton and Menahan Street Band all sound alike to you too? I guess all that music on CTI sounds the same too?” What’s that supposed to mean? You mean when Sharon Jones sings acapella without the Dap Kings? Or when the Dap Kings play with Mark Ronson without Sharon? Actually I think Binky Griptite sounds like Dyke Arlester but yeah there are big similarities in sound between Griptite and what Lee Fields, Charles Bradley and Jones do with their bands. Which sounds nothing like the Melbourne scene. You want Hammond bands that actually sound different to the ‘Burners – try Big Boss Man, The New Mastersounds and Stoned Soul Picnic. Who incidentally sound more different to one another than The ‘Burners and The Bamboos.
‘po-faced’ and humourless?
I am responding to statements and stirring discussion. When talking about any subject, one can discuss without humour. It encourages discourse and different viewpoints. Not all of us are comedians., . . (once again) I was simply responding to the review to correct something that was written, NOT as you appear to think, disrespecting or challenging your humour, intellect or writing skills.
I visit sites like this one for information and entertainment. And on this occasion, the information was ill-informed so I simply responded to correct that. .It’s pretty simple. I don’t think I was out of line doing so, for the benefit of those who read it.nds.
To your points:
Re: Hammond Organ in both bands – I think it is pretty obvious with the sound coming from these bands that Cookin’ are using a vintage Hammond and The Bamboos are not. The Bamboos hammond sound is an emulation. My guess, a Nord or later-era synth keyboard The sound is thinner, and lacks balls. The Bamboos also have used Rhodes in later tracks. These are marked differences. That is what I meant by “One uses a hammond organ” (strictly)
Cookin’ On 3 Burners DO NOT use bass guitar and never have! – read your album credits. Most bass parts or ‘sounds’ are played by the Hammond player (this sound is quite different to a guitar) . This is in fact not uncommon with older era Hammond trios. Although that said, there are some obvious tunes where the guitarist in Cookin’ is playing some bass notes on his guitar.
Anyway – I’ll agree to disagree with you that these 2 bands sound alike. I think they have a totally different sound and flavour and even though they come from the same city, are worlds apart as far as their musical path, their references and especially their audience.
“You want Hammond bands that actually sound different to the ‘Burners – try Big Boss Man, The New Mastersounds and Stoned Soul Picnic”
They sure do sound different – I have bought their records – all absolute killer bands, all sound different from each other in their own way. all very different line-ups. Some with bass, some with horns, some with Clav, Some using wah wah sounds, some with big horn sections.
“You do seem to be getting rather exercised about points that only the worst kind of scene nerd or friend/lover/relative of someone in the band would trouble themselves with”
- What? – So because somebody knows about bands, musicians, instruments, production etc., they must be one of these things? To some of us this is a living.
Why does someone automatically think that someone who knows a little about a band or two is related or a friend or a lover? I am none of your suggestions, but rather an avid collector, DJ and radio show host. Scene Nerd? What Scene? There’s a scene here? Have you ever been to Australia??? Hahaha. . Boy have we tried!!. .. . Try MUSIC Nerd. . Well hell yes, I will give you that one. . but aren’t we all?
careful…i’m getting to like you.
same here.
what are you wearing?
just safety-pants and a speed glove.
hit me up via this site’s contact form. maybe i can put up links to your radio show’s webby or something if there is one. i reckon there’s networking to be done.