SLICK WILLIE AND THE ARKANSAS FROGS
(?) 1998 Alexander Roch Attardo Music Company (ASCAP)
(p) 1998 St. Roch Records, Inc.
15tks/61mins

Did you hear what about sing the Arkansas frogs? In principle - nothing serious. These sweet and non-evil creatures tell various stories. For example, nearby lives a good guy named Billy. He has various hobbies. In his free time he likes playing sax, but moreover, you know, he is greatly interested in women. Here is one little problem: this guy, Billy is the President of those very United American States. Still moral problems interest him little. There is only one problem: safe sex takes time. This is the name of the opening composition, which is very rhythmical and perfectly arranged. It is followed by the passionate "Desert Thunder: Empire", telling about the imperial ambitions of the USA. What else sing the Arkansas frogs? About just the same things: corruption, greed, and in general about the coming of very strange times: "Corruption", "Greed", "We're Living In Strange Times" - these are the names of the album tracks. And vocals in these compositions are full of feelings, I should say - rather passionate. Sometimes they are rather sharp and even strict ("Greed"), sometimes they are more soft and close to the traditional country ("Out Of The Darkness"), and sometimes remind melodious pop a-la Gloria Estefan ("Remember") - but mainly they are very sincere.

I understand that many of our listeners could not understand the texts blaming Clinton administration. Well, I can advise them: learn English! Still, by the way, this album can be characterized not only by interesting texts. It is very good concerning melodies. Arrangements are very qualified and highly professional, sound design is perfect. In general everything is modern and up to date. And one more important quality: this album is very various, it is not boring. I think that here we have one of the rare cases when the result is better than expectations: all the tracks which is collected in the CD are beyond frames of simple satire (though it is released in a right time) and can be considered as a independent appearance in modern music. So when you'll get acquainted with the "Slick Willie And The Arkansas Frogs", you'll have a real pleasure! I promise you this.

And in the end I'll tell: having heard this album, one can understand that not everything is so bad and hopeless in this quiet and a little fat America.

Serge Kozlovsky