Pork Tornado

RELEASE
October 01, 2002
LABEL
Ryko
GENRES
Pop/Rock, Jam Bands, Blues-Rock

Album Review

Formed by Phish drummer Jon Fishman as a kind of all-star experiment from local players in Burlington, Pork Tornado delivers a mismatched set of solo noodles, tight rhythm jams, spacy synth pads, saloon laments -- songs set in styles that have nothing much in common other than the spirit of the musicians as they hopscotch from genre to genre. Their authenticity on country cuts like "Home Is Where You Are" and "Blue Skies" makes it almost impossible to believe that the same guys are responsible for the funk track "Kiss My Black Ass," which they execute with a street energy, crisp backbeat, virtuoso stuttering bass, and collage mentality that reach back to James Brown and War for inspiration. There are enigmatic moments as well, which range from Dan Archer's somewhat stiff solo guitar fragment "Fellini" to a few seconds of Fishman goofing around on the keys in "Organ." These feel a little gratuitous, but the full-band performances radiate intensity, with plenty of humor -- especially in the very bizarre a cappella "All American" -- adding a good-time twist on top.
Robert L. Doerschuk, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. Move With You
  2. Guabi Guabi
  3. Home Is Where You Are
  4. When I Get Drunk
  5. Blue Skies
  6. Kiss My Black Ass
  7. Organ
  8. Fellini
  9. Trousers
  10. Chained to a Stump
  11. All American
  12. Aaron's Blues