What's Up! Magazine

Fanny Alger went to the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” at the famous Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee to record this 14-track album called Does Memphis. Sun Studios produced some of the most famous names in rock ‘n’ roll, like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. It’s an icon, a museum and a living studio. Four months after Fanny Alger recorded there, John Mellencamp recorded nine tracks for his current album.

With studio cred like this it’s no surprise that the album is crisp and clear with an outstanding mix. Peppered throughout are some classic covers, five of them total. The covers have a wide variety of instruments and full soundscapes, where the originals are more basic straight ahead bar band rock.

Owen Money on lead vocals has a quirky sense of humor. The lyrics for the songs are sarcastic, funny, and youthful. Junior Mintz on bass lays down the low end tightly with articulate drummer Jon E Catt. Lew Dax on keyboards enhances the mood of the songs. Blind Lemon Pledge on guitar keeps the music upbeat and rockin.

Best described as slapstick bar band rock, Fanny Alger proclaims their shows to be Revivals. The music has a southern backwoods swamp appeal to it. The lyrics seem mostly like uneducated juvenile humor with lines like “You’re Ugly, you get beat up by nerds”, “Cheryl Teigs is Hot” and “The ladies are appreciative and show us their…”. The funniest line had to go to the song ‘Black Yeti’, “Give my eyes for grandma’s biscuits, go blind, for biscuits.” It seems like the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but they definitely have fun.

The cover tunes were well done and when removed from the originals are in a different class. Recording a cover of “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash, at the studio it was recorded at, had to be an experience.

Overall the album has a professional sound to it and the packaging is very nice. Fanny Alger clearly likes to have fun, and the recording shows it.

Released on: Fast Sunday Entertainment
For more visit: www.fannyalger.com