Nutsak
Photo: Isa Tousignant
Nutsak is indeed a mixed bag of nuts: a francophone, an anglophone, an arab and a jew coming together to make music like a microcosm of a utopian society. Founding members Sam Shalabi (The Shalabi Effect, Detention, David Kristian/Shalabi/St. Onge) and Chris Burns (Crackpot, GlassBurns, Terminal Sunglasses, Ratchet Orchestra) played their first Nutsak show in 1996 yet have never recorded an album under this name until now. Their recording debut comes in the shape of a two-song 7" single and is also available on all your favorite download sites.
The band's wide variety of original songs dip into the realms of be-bop, klezmer, punk, jazz, balladry, metal, country, blues, Motown, classic rock, improv, surf, and noise but always come out in the distinctive Nutsak style. The full length album "Failed Musician" was released in July 2009 and was recorded by Jace Lasek of The Besnard Lakes with the artwork designed by drummer / cartoonist Howard Chackowicz. The album will be available on CD and download formats.
André Asselin: bass
Chris Burns: guitar and vocals
Howard Chackowicz: drums and vocals
Sam Shalabi: guitar
"Nutsak"
The debut self-titled single from Nutsak contains two original compositions that illustrate the band's more balls out rockin' qualities. The A-side, "You Are Going to Prison", is a Sam Shalabi instrumental that is fairly indicative of much of the Nutsak sound: a highly energetic, frantic, kinetic and somewhat manic number that has the players all biting into it with wild abandonment while keeping to a tight arrangement that includes a completely improvised free section thrown in for good measure. The B-side is the Chris Burns penned "Last Train To Nutsak, NJ". While its title pays hommage to The Monkees, the music is more of a wink to Motorhead, particularly in the bridge where Shalabi lets loose some unbelievably scorching solos. It is difficult to resist the invitation of all four Nutsak members calling out "Get on board"!
Limited edition 7" single.
Also available for download:
// eMusic
now available
"Failed Musician"
"Failed Musician" is the exciting, electric and eclectic debut album by four extremely talented, creative and versatile musicians with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of projects. It is a unique and vibrant mix of genre blending and bending, irreverent humor, musical chops not interfering with total abandon, and a healthy dose of disregard for current trends. Informed by avant garde elements and a fair amount of improvisation and experimentation, it still rocks like a motherfucker! The band's wide variety of original songs dip into the realms of jazz, punk, klezmer, metal, improv, blues, noise, Motown, classic rock, surf and country yet always come out in the distinctive Nutsak sound.
The album was recorded by Jace Lacek at Breakglass Studios in Montréal in the summer of 2007 and was mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market.
Also available for download:
// eMusic
now available
The bulk of the record is comprised of 5 original instrumental tunes composed by guitarist Sam Shalabi (Shalabi Effect, Land Of Kush, Detention, Ballet Mécanique): the Al Green inspired, toe tapping, smile inducing opener "Baby Drools Diamonds", the klezmer/thrash "Cossak", the Mingusian "May/September Blur Blues", the be-bop beyond rock "Balzac", and the off the rails, pummelling A side of the band's first single "You Are Going to Prison". Two more originals are provided by guitarist and singer Chris Burns (Ratchet Orchestra, Terminal Sunglasses): the bossa nova punker (that revels in rock and roll as a euphemism for fornication) "Innuendo Shminnuendo", and the
B-side to the aforementioned single, the Motorhead and Shoulders tinged "Last Train to Nutsak, New Jersey", which features the entire band plus Jace Lacek (Besnard Lakes) on backing vocals. Drummer and singer Howard Chackowicz (CBC radio's Wiretap, American Devices) offers the filthy "They Fucked Good Tonight" (a solid rocker about a live sex show) and the misanthropic negative creep with a Tony Bennett wink slow swinger "I Hate Everything". Bassist André Asselin is responsible for the album's most laid back moment, the jazzy, psychedelic tinged wonky pop ballad "Filets D'Harengs Fumés". The rest is rounded out by two covers: the Willie Dixon penned "Hidden Charms" that has Chris Burns delivering an inappropriately aggressive vocal, and the Rodgers and Hammerstein nugget from The Sound of Music, "My Favorite Things", which one listener described as "John Coltrane meets Sonic Youth".
The album was recorded by Jace Lacek at Breakglass Studios in Montréal in the summer of 2007 and was mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market.
