Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Next Big Thing Alert: The Heavy

In case you feel you're not getting enough soul in your indie rock (like that pretentious prick, Sasha Frere-Jones), then check out Brit funk-rockers, The Heavy. Combining the influences of Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, and Prince, the co-ed quintet just dropped their first full-length, Great Vengeance and Furious Fire, last month on the Ninja Tunes label. Like a more upbeat Gnarls Barkley, The Heavy blend whatever's left of neo-soul with blistering rock jams. The distorted guitars, lo-fi samples, horn riffs, and high-pitched muted wail of lead vocalist, Kevin Swaby set the mood for a retro urban atmosphere where John Shaft and Jules Winnfield would frequent.

With a performance that scorched the SXSW crowd last month, The Heavy are quickly becoming a favorite live act as well. Check them out in Chicago at The Darkroom May 9th.

Enjoy a couple of tracks for free here, but the album is only $6 at iTunes, and well worth it.

"That Kind of Man"


"Colleen"


Make friends @ http://www.myspace.com/theheavy73.

-J2

1 comment:

Senor Juevos said...

Diggin' The Heavy! I wish more people made tunes like that.

Rock Chalk.