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Soloists
Banjo Billy
Banjo Billy
Produced by:
Spicer, Pinchas
Description:
Banjo Billy is an unbelievably new fresh sound that gives Jewish music a much-needed injection of life. He mixes original and clever lyrics with beautiful and catchy music, all while serving the one above with a pure heart and a great voice on the rarely heard sound of the banjo. He speaks honestly and directly about his experiences coming to a religious life. From searching for a home for 4000 years, becoming a Kosher Boy Now, talking to G-d in a forest, and urging Am Yisrael to make aliyah like him, to finding G-d in A Bagel and finding himself looking for his zevoog down the line.
Far too often, the religious element of Jewish pop music seems to come at the price of unoriginality and low production values. So it was with some trepidation that I started listening to Banjo Billy, the 11 track debut album by Pinchas Spicer, who wrote the music and lyrics, plays the banjo on and produced all the songs on this album, recorded recently in Tsfat Israel. I'm happy to say that five
seconds into the first track my fears proved to be groundless.
With a substantial backing band of eight highly polished musicians, the songs practically jump off the CD with energy and excitement. The musical style of the album is firmly in the American folk music genre, clearly delineated by th line-up of banjo,
harmonica, mandolin, guitars, clarinet, violin, bass, keyboards and percussion. The themes of the songs are very personal, reflecting the trials and tribulations Pinchas faced on his journey to becoming an
observant Jew. The first two tracks, "Banjo Billy" and " soul Searching , introduce us to his growing awareness that there's more to life as he sets out on his spiritual journey. Several of the other songs - "I'm a Car", "Sweet Gifts", "Do You Mind?", and "Right
before Our Eyes"- explore his relationship to G-d and his place in the world. However, despite the serious nature of the journey, throughout the album Pinchas maintains an upbeat attitude, always looking on
the wacky side of life. Topics such as making Aliya ("Lech Lecha"), starting to keep kosher ("Kosher Boy") and becoming
observant ("One More Mitzvah") all provide humorous fodder for his catchy banjo-backed melodies.
While most of the album is in English, with the occasional Hebrew word and "yeeee-ha" exclamation sprinkled in for good measure, the last song ("Tkah B'Shofar") is entirely in Hebrew, based on a common prayer. It would be interesting to hear Pinchas come up with original lyrics in Hebrew for his next album which had better not be too far behind. (by Aaron Symonds)
Track Listing
| 1 | Banjo Billy |
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| 2 | Soul Searching |
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| 3 | Kosher Boy |
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| 4 | I'm a Car |
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| 5 | Sweet Gifts |
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| 6 | One More Mitzvah |
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| 7 | Do You Mind? |
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| 8 | Conservative Girl |
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| 9 | Lech Lecha |
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| 10 | Right Before Our Eyes |
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| 11 | Tkah B'shofar |
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Hatuka, Tomer
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| CD
$19.99
$14.49
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Gerstner, Eli
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| CASSETTE
$11.99
$9.49
$3.80
CD
$19.99
$14.49
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