BOGGS
We Are The Boggs We Are (Ryko)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Had me fooled. With a title like that, the group's disheveled appearance (spikey, unkept hair) and an English flag scarf around leader Jason Friedman's neck - this had to be an English outfit. But nay sir, the Boggs are New York Subway buskers who've honed their rollicking, drunken banjo playing just enough to make any Pogues fan smirk, without losing any marks on the originality meter. The Boggs sound like a stumbling hillbilly mess, but that's the charm. Friedman's obtuse, often garbled vocals are in fact the perfect foil for the deft musicianship, giving life to what could have been just another rootsy record good for a barn dance then a delete bin. Do not underestimate the Boggs, for they are the real deal, they are.

PS: A nice touch is one of the band members on the cover graphic is pictured reading a mag with last year's buzz band the Strokes on the cover. Cheeky bastards.

© 2002 - John Sekerka