The Littlest Man Band
Published February 16, 2005
Sounds come from a singer, a keyboard, a guitar, an upright bass, two trumpets, a trombone, and a drum set. Together they make a jazzy and lounging, but still rocking young group who want to make you dance and sing. Singer and songwriter Scott Klopfenstein has spent years singing backup and blowing his trumpet for popular ska band Reel Big Fish but you wont find any ska on this disc, only his tremendous voice exploring octaves and toughing it through the sad times which he writes about. It isn't all sad though, there are several upbeat songs to get you swaying.
The debut CD which is titled Better Book Ends is absolutely wonderful in all its diversity. Try out "Stayed Away too Long," (free for download on their Web site) for a starting glance at the band. The song, which is about a man neglecting his girlfriend, sounds like something that, at its core, could have been written by Ray Charles. Other influences include Tom Waits, John Lennon, and Brian Wilson.
The band has one of the best Web sites out there. It has a pleasurable design once you get past the splash page and once you register the whole site recognizes who you are, not just the message board. Unfortunately Amazon.com does not carry their album yet, but iTunes does, and they have a pay and play deal where if you buy the album from them you'll get the mp3s immediately and then the CD in the mail a few days later. If you're at all interested check out Scoot K. on the DVD below where he plays with RBF in a two-hour concert and does the audio commentary which has some very funny moments.
The Littlest Man Band, my friends, is a truly unique band that must be heard to believed. I suppose that statement renders a reviewer pretty useless in most cases, myself included because I don't have a big basis to which classify the sound. Give them a whirl and let me know what you think.
- The Littlest Man Band
- Published: February 16, 2005
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- Section: Music
- Writer: Bat Boy
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Comments on this articleComments
Yay for the littlest man band! Good review. I like.
Informative and helpful with appropriate links. I guess the RBF DVD was a good link if you're in a bind, but I would have linked to the clip of part of the album on the band's site. Overall a well-written review =)
The Littlest Man Band really is something that everyone needs to check out. No matter what kind of music you typically listen to, they have a song that you will love. Good review and good taste in music.
Well Lisa, here is the link to the music page, http://www.thelittlestmanband.com/sound/sound.aspx but you need to register for the site before downloading.
The Littlest Man Band are super rad, and so is this review! :)
This CD is really good. This review is really good. How fitting.
go check out the littlest man band at one of their upcoming shows (http://www.thelittlestmanband.com/tourinfo/tour.aspx) because they are AMAZING live! p.s. great review! :)
i've never met anyone who didn't love the littlest man band. great review :)
I have to say, I've listened to it a few times now and I'm not exactly sure what to think of it. I'm glad I found your review before I did one, mine would have been pretty negative.
Just too many influences on this album for me. I couldn't really gauge the album. Individual songs were fine, some enjoyable some I know I'd skip later on. The album as a whole seemed disjointed and jumpy.
Don't get me wrong, Scott K's got some serious pipes, maybe it was the band behind him. It didn't seem tight and at some points was just too slow and mixed too many sounds that shouldn't have gone together.
Then as soon as I think that, they all synch up and hit some phrasing that just blows me away.
I'm still listening to it, not sure just yet.
Good review.
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This CD is purely amazing. The first time I heard it was blown away. The only thing more amazing than Better Books Ends is seeing The Littlest Man Band live.
Do NOT write this CD of solely because of the members connections to ska bands. Check it out, you won't be sorry.