The Bobby Tenderloin Universe – Satan Is A Woman
This sophomore set contains 10 intriguing & weird cuts produced by Paul Arnusch (bass/drums/percussion/electric guitar). The opener has plenty of traditional country instincts, but the country approach is a bit dark & warped — yet interesting. As provocative as Matt Johnson’s group known as The The — they produced classic country covers in a dark noirish manner on a 1995 LP called “Hanky Panky.” Sometimes weird is good. It surprises a listener to realize that Country isn’t always big hats, hee-haw & moonshine.
The addition of a female vocal in “What Do I Do” featuring Cayley Thomas is an upbeat vividly performed story that’s drenched in the Delta & voodoo atmosphere of New Orleans. It’s interesting. Catchy. It comes from a country pool of music deeper than most.
There are 10 loaded pieces to Satan Is A Woman (Drops October 2024/Country Moon Records/35:11) that reach liberally into Lee Hazelwood territory on “Bad Boy of Redemption Ranch,” – the only thing it lacks is Nancy Sinatra’s voice. But the attempt celebrates that type of country projection that Hazelwood colored his songs with.
Also worth a mention is the dark country work of Michael Gira & Swans on their “Burning World” LP. Gira has a deep voice offset by the contrasting voice of Jarboe. This wasn’t their normal repertoire, but it was interesting (“The River That Runs With Love Won’t Run Dry,” & “She Is the Universal Emptiness”). There’s Canada’s Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts whose deep voice is similar to the Tenderloin. So, they’re in good company.
I don’t know if these young Edmonton artists in The Bobby Tenderloin Universe even know who I’m talking about.
There is sufficient color in their music but it’s more pastel than bright. Their songs would fit in a Quentin Tarantino movie. There’s a well-defined entertaining value to this work. The female vocal(s) is the secret ingredient. Their contrast is the pinch of sugar.
“When the Bullet Hits The Bull” borders on beautiful. An excellent performance & arrangement. This music won’t appeal to a broad range of tastes but those who do embrace it will listen to it often. It reaches into places many people fear to visit yet, find it stimulating to explore. It’s almost like a guilty pleasure – chocolate? cherry pie? ice cream? cocaine?
Highlights – “Satan Is A Woman,” “What Do I Do,” “Bad Boy of Redemption Ranch,” “I Will Unfollow You,” “When the Bullet Hits The Bull,” “Rollin’ Back To You” & “There Goes.”
Musicians – Cayley Thomas (vocals/bgv), Bobby Tenderloin (vocals/acoustic guitar/piano), Nathan Gray (dobro/pedal steel), Derrick Anderson (pedal steel), Nathaniel Wong (violins), Rhonda Chinchilla & Kyla Enns (vocals).
Front cover image by Emma Frazier (vocals) & band image by Heather Saitz. CD @ Bandcamp + https://www.bobbytenderloinuniverse.com/
