This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
They’re the band that put the power in soul power.
And on their fifth release The Red, White & Black, California’s BellRays are back one more time to stick it to the man — or at least the bland pod-people populating the pop scene these days. As always, they come strapped with an arsenal of fat-free funky drummer backbeats, god-of-thunder basslines, power-chord ’70s guitar heroics and — their weapon of mass destruction — the earthshaking Janis-meets-Aretha vocals of powerhouse Lisa Kekaula. When it’s all said and done, the revolution may not be televised — but if these 21 tracks are anything to go by, it’s gonna be a party, baby.
