Sonically, The Crazy Truth lies somewhere between garage rock and punky blues with hints of Latin-soul in a dark, smoky lounge. Stooges & Stones meet Morphine & Tom Waits. Classic roots with modern twists. Steve Conte brings the power, soul and raunch; a guitar hero on the edge of falling apart – with the voice of a derelict angel. Drummer Phil Stewart is equal parts Max Roach and Keith Moon while bassist Leeko was weaned on The Clash and old school reggae. Conte says: “This album sounds like a band playing LIVE because it is — drums, bass & guitar together in one room, solos recorded live on the basic tracks, rough and tough. It was like doing a gig – and I love playing live with this band because it’s all about interplay and the moment. We don’t just deliver the songs…we JAM!”
Lyrically, the songs reflect two decades of life and excess in New York City…the distractions troubled souls move toward to fill the emptiness. Dive bars, gambling, sex & drugs …it’s all there, but not celebrated with the usual macho rock attitude. It’s really about redemption. With Steve Conte’s unique perspective he sings, “I’m always putting the last things first, that’s why I’m starting out with the second verse” and “drag queens, drama queens, future ex-porn stars, we’re all looking for lovers with beautiful scars”. Whether he’s the morally bankrupt guy “coming downtown in a Gypsy Cab” or riding a “Busload Of Hope” to Atlantic City, Conte offers optimism – “In the end we transcend – we’re divine”.
Special guests include David Johansen (New York Dolls) on harmonica, Catherine Russell (David Bowie) & Nicki Richards (Madonna) on backing vocals and Danny Ray (Sylvain Sylvain/ Johnny Thunders), Kiku Collins (Beyonce) Tom Timko (Stevie Wonder) on horns. The album was mixed by the legendary Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Keith Richards) and mastered by Richard Dodd (Tom Petty/Green Day).
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