SCRAPOMATIC

I'm A Stranger

2012-08-21

Scapomatic call themselves the Great American Blues Machine. Originally from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mike Mattison and Paul Olsen started their band in the mid 90s. Olsen is an ASCAP award-winning songwriter and Mattison joined the Derek Trucks Band in 2002 as lead singer (and helped garner a Grammy for Tedeschi Trucks with Revelator in 2010). Swamp blues tune "Alligator Love Cry" is a new song (not to be confused with their 2006 CD of the same name) and I love the sassy 'hoo-aah'! Rat Trap is a rocker with tight lead guitar lines and percussion. Mattison takes his time with Crime Fighter, sung in falsetto---it's a tasty piece of ear candy. Track 10 "How Unfortunate for Me" is a nostalgic take with Kevin Hyde featured on trombone. With Dave Yoke on guitar, Ted Pecchio on bass, and Tyler Greenwell rounding out the rhythm section, Scrapomatic continues to hone their music-making, but the dynamic-duo's lyric-writing is what surfaces in their 4th release I'm a Stranger. Recommended tracks: (1) Alligator Love Cry; (3) Rat Trap; (8) Crime Fighter; (4) Night Trains, Distant Whistles. - Pam VandeKerkhoff

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Blues

  • reviewed 06/2014

    The City Boy Allstars
    Blinded By The Night

  • reviewed 04/2017

    The Dylan Bishop Band
    The Exciting Sounds Of The Dylan Bishop Band

  • reviewed 03/2016

    COMPILATIONS
    God Don't Never Change - The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson

  • reviewed 12/1969

    PAUL REDDICK
    SUGAR BIRD

  • reviewed 05/2010

    BETTYE LaVETTE
    Interpretations – The Great British Songbook

  • reviewed 04/2011

    LARRY TAYLOR
    They Were in This House

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.