reviews
SoundSpike
There are guys out there who don't have a choice. Jay Souza is
one of them. He'd just as soon play for one or 1,000, as long as
he gets to play. That is why Souza's band Patrolled by Radar
sounds so damned righteous.
Lovingly produced by Peter Curry of Los Straitjackets, "Be
Happy" sounds like the best of early Elvis Costello with a
double shot Wilco and an ounce of twang. Souza has written the
ideal album for that late night road trip to Bakersfield. It
ain't perfect, it ain't pretty, but its mix of melancholy and
hope rings true in a way Nashville big hat pop country never
does.
Souza and his compadres Bosco Sheff, BC Coulter and Bryan Stone
have been at this awhile. They played well over 1,000 shows
under the moniker 50 Cent Haircut, all while refusing to bow
down to the taste du jour. That is a lot of spitting into the
wind, especially in a city as unforgiving and jaded as Los
Angeles.
Souza, who still pulls a regular shift as a bartender, has
concocted an intoxicating elixir of equal parts British
invasion, cow punk and Americana. As immediate and catchy as
some of these songs are, this is a record meant for adults.
Souza touches on themes of a sour economy in "Widow Next Door"
and "Dressed for the Drought." Both songs would have been just
as relevant 80 years ago. "New Fight Song" is the Replacements
single that Paul Westerberg never wrote. "Coat of
Disappointment" and "Fast Life Slow Death" deal with mortality
in a most intimate manner. "Carried Away" is haunted by a
meandering violin that snakes its way in and out as Souza
reflects the views of a soldier far from home. "Pachyderm" and
the title track are as Beatlesque as it gets without becoming
blatantly patronizing. "Haywire" and "Walkin" are both best
listened to while tapping out the beat on the steering wheel of
a '55 Bel Air.
Live, Patrolled by Radar is a hoot. Originals, standards and
deep cuts galore, they'll roll through Johnny Cash and Johnny
Rotten consecutively without pause or gentlemanly reflection.
Writing is in Souza's blood, as his direct lineage to the famed
Irish poet William Butler Yeats attests. His lyrics aren't
interested in the easy way out. This is songwriting respected as
craft, no doubt a pile of crumpled lyric sheets left in its wake.
Roy El Saghir
No Depression
Patrolled by Radar is a long-running Southern California quintet,
previously known as 50 Cent Haircut, and led by singer/songwriter
Jay Souza. Their music mixes country, folk, blues, psych, pub rock
and post-punk. Souza’s singing occasionally suggests a rustic,
nasal incarnation of the Bongos’ Richard Barone, but he also
brings to mind the promenading music hall soul of Ray Davies on the
horn-lined “Pachyderm,” and a polished, yet equally disturbing
version of Holly Golightly’s blues on “Widow Next Door.” Souza’s
lyrics are more poem than narrative, leaving behind impressions
and images rather than story arcs. You’ll find yourself singing
“my skull was cracked / like a cathedral dome,” but you may not
know why. More easily digested are the teary loss of “Coat of
Disappointment," the alcoholic’s spiral of “Fast Life, Slow
Death,” and a soldier’s consideration of his circumstances in
“Carried Away.” The songs are often dressed in catchy melodies and
clever word play that initially obsure the lyrics’ underlying
darkness, but the contrast makes this both immediately accessible
and grist for deeper consideration.
Hyperbolium
The Daily News Pittsburgh Metro
PATROLLED BY RADAR, “Be
Happy” (Knitting Factory) 4.5 Stars
— About a minute into “Be Happy,” the debut full-length from
Patrolled By Radar, I was hooked. That’s because the man behind
PBR, singer/songwriter Jay Souza, has the type of nasal drawl that
I enjoy so much. With an eclectic sound that incorporates indie
folk, country, rock and soul, this 10-track gem should appeal to
most listeners. There’s not a clunker to be found on “Be Happy,” as
Souza has crafted a near-perfect platter. Among the keepers here
are “Widow Next Door,” the haunting “Dressed for the Drought,”
“Coat of Disappointment,” “Haywire” and the title track. Patrolled
By Radar will stay in heavy rotation on my iPod. (JS)
Jeffrey Sisk
Grateful Web
The Grateful Web
The band formerly known as 50 Cent Haircut who, after some
confusion with a particular rapper sharing two-thirds of the same
name, decided a change would be beneficial, now enter the world
and hopefully its consciousness as Patrolled By Radar, and bring
with them a fantastically sublime new album Be Happy.
Patrolled by Radar: Be Happy
Steeped in a multitude of genres, all of which sound unique and
unmatched, and layered with unwavering grace, Be Happy is a rare
album that not only makes the listener feel good about what is
transpiring in their ears but also tells an important and hopeful
tale about life, love and happiness in these unrelentingly
confusing times.
Comprised of five first-rate musicians Jay Souza, Bryan Coulter,
Bryan Stone, Bosco Sheff and Ben Johnsen, Patrolled By Radar is a
band surely making a name for them self by being honest in their
rhythms and passionate in their words.
Be Happy begins with “Widow Next Door”, a fun and jaunty piece of
work detailing the protagonist’s burgeoning attraction to, yes,
the widow next door. It is fun, loose material with a great beat
that is impossible not to bounce your head or tap your foot to,
and backed by dazzling backup vocalists as inspired as the
musicians.
The whole album pays tribute to each member’s respective skills
and also the quintet’s almost inherent ability to play as a
cohesive unit. But it is Jay Souza’s raspy and worn in voice that
carries throughout the whole journey. His is a soul ridden
display of harmonic honesty not just spouting empty words, but
laying out passages of a well lived life.
Each track is well versed in instrumentation, bringing in various
tools such as harmonicas, pedal steel guitars, heavy almost
cowboy picking acoustic guitars and even a full-swinging brass
band. From this, and more, it is apparent these are old souls
supplied with grit and brimming with wisdom.
“Coat of Disappointment”, the fifth track on this unrelentingly
quality album, is extremely well put together and powerful in its
mask of simplicity.
Patrolled by Radar
What is most striking about Be Happy, as a whole, is its truth.
There is no other way to put these songs together and no other
way to play them, so it leaves the listener without the recent
phenomenon of questioning the music and seeking alternatives in a
similar vein. It simply is. And that is as rare as it is
beautiful.
The title track, “Be Happy”, contains lyrics and themes that flow
through the whole album, a self contained ode to it all.
If there was ever a song whose title provides the listener the
same feeling after which the track in named, it is “Walking”. The
thumping bass line of footsteps provides the ground floor and the
light and easy, but nevertheless prevalent electric guitars are
the swinging legs landing succinctly and solidly on the
aforementioned grounding the bass provides.
“New Fight Song”, a balls out rock-n-roll song is a perfect
upbeat and grooving ending to this already stellar fare. It
transitions half way through to a bluesy breakdown, like
wandering through the Old West then suddenly transporting you
back to the bustling, rocking streets of now, and it is here we
make our stay and come to the realization that an album like this
is rare and should be relished in all its glory.
Josh Baker
Josh Baker
Michael Doherty's Music Log Blog
I loved these guys when they were 50 Cent Haircut. The change in
names hasn't diminished their appeal at all. Their new album, Be
Happy, is full of cool tunes with excellent lyrics. And what a
voice. Lead singer Jay Souza at times reminds me of folks like
Steve Owen and David Lowery.
The name was apparently changed because people confused the band
with the rapper 50 Cent. Uh, who were these people? The rapper
never wrote a song half as good as anything this band has
performed under either name.
On this release, the band displays its good sense of humor. I
have a weakness for stuff that sounds negative, but really isn't
because it's sung with a smirk. There are moments that caused me
to actually burst out laughing, like the sarcastic-sounding "la
la la" moment in "Haywire."
This album has no nonsense. Nothing is overproduced. There are no
hidden tracks. Everything is just exactly right. All the songs
were written by Jay Souza.
"Widow Next Door"
Be Happy opens with "Widow Next Door," a song that sounds like
country with an edge. It has a sexy vibe to it. (Think Joe Henry,
or even Bob Dylan.) I absolutely love the backing vocals by
Annette Summersett.
"New Fight Song"
"New Fight Song" starts off as more of a rock tune, like
something by Cracker. The line "So let's all fall in love" is
sung with a wonderful cynicism. This song boasts great lyrics
including the lines, "my skull was cracked/like a cathedral
dome." Then a minute and a half, it breaks down to more of a
country tune, with a bit of whistling to boot. And then there is
some great stuff on electric guitar when it kicks back in - it
comes in with energy and anger.
"Dressed For The Drought"
"Dressed For The Drought" is a great folk song for the poor and
depressed. Here is a taste of the lyrics: "we're not
impressed/when the truth comes out/we don't care anymore/we don't
know where to begin/we're perfectly dressed for the drought." I
love the harmonica that comes in near the end. It has that sad,
try tone, like a lone man in the desert at dusk, perfectly suited
for this song.
"Pachyderm"
"Pachyderm" is country rock with a definite pop influence. It
features a short drum solo by Mark Bennington, leading into an
excellent lead part by August Poehls on tenor sax. Like all of
this album's tracks, there are some excellent lyrics, such as
"you are waving at catastrophe/well the same goes for me/we are
eager to be/gun shy/one day you'll die."
"Coat Of Disappointment"
Though the subject of "Coat Of Disappointment" is actually
serious and sad, this song has some funny lyrics, like "i love
the drugs/i'm ingesting/how i wish she were here/to disagree."
This song has a classic country rhythm, and it reminds me a bit
of Steve Owen. The piano section comes as a pleasant surprise.
(That's Peter Curry on piano.)
"Coat Of Disappointment" turns out to be kind of a sweet song,
with lines like, "i sat and cried last night/before the
stone/that bears her name/i planted a flower/in the rain/now i'm
waiting/for the sun."
"Fast Life Slow Death"
"Fast Life Slow Death" is a seriously cool song. It starts like a
slowly bleeding wound. I love the way the music and lyrics are so
closely entwined on so many of these songs. What's also great
about these songs is that though there is a sense of humor behind
them, they will still end up affecting you emotionally. Jay
really grabs you when he sings, for example, "here's to my fast
life/and my slow death" just before the song picks up a bit. And
when he sings, "i'd like to change some things i guess." This is
a wonderful song.
"Be Happy"
"Be Happy," the album's title track, is country folk that kicks
in with a bit of country stomp feel. Music that makes you want to
drink a cheap beer and then smash the bottle. Should I point out
here that Patrolled By Radar shares initials with Pabst Blue
Ribbon? (Though does PBR come in bottles, or just cans?)
There is a short (though repeated) section of "Be Happy" with a
steady beat that reminds me of "Windy" by The Association.
Seriously. Listen to the two songs back to back. You'll hear it.
By the way, I love these lyrics: "i said i love you/for lack of a
better word/she said that's the worst lie i've ever heard/then
she started to slap me."
"Walking"
The album concludes with "Walking," a groovy bluesy rock number
about Hitler and Johnny Cash. I don't think there's anything else
I need to say.
CD Track List
Widow Next Door
New Fight Song
Dressed For The Drought
Pachyderm
Coat Of Disappointment
Fast Life Slow Death
Haywire
Carried Away
Be Happy
Walking
Musicians
Patrolled By Radar is Jay Souza on lead vocals, guitar and
harmonica; Bryan "BC" Coulter on guitar and backing vocals; Bryan
"Reno" Stone on bass and backing vocals, Mark Bennington on
drums, and Bosco Sheff on slide and steel guitar.
Joining them on this release are Peter Curry on drums, bass and
piano; Annette Summersett on backing vocals and organ; Krister
Axel on organ and accordion, August Poehls on tenor sax, and
Austin Hartley-Leonard on cello.
Be Happy is scheduled to be released on June 7, 2011 on Knitting
Factory Records. Patrolled By Radar is based in Los Angeles.
Michael Doherty
The Open Road-KCRW
Wowza for Jay Souza. [Patrolled By Radar] is a great band with
terrific songs. Bang and twang!
Gary Calamar (Music Supervisor) GO Music Services
The Onion AV/Los Angeles
Frontman Jay Souza and friends are certified alchemists with a gift
for spinning instantly relatable yarns that can magically transform
whatever venue they happen to be playing into a hootin'-and-hollerin'
honky-tonk. Their stonewashed blend of rockabilly, southern gothic,
and roots rock (with a not so secret splash of punk inflected
Brit-pop) shines sweetly on the recent Shadow of the Noose.
Liam Gowing
Jake Leg News (JLN)
The hallmark of [Patrolled By Radar's] decade long career has always
been the honesty and sincerity of their songs, and on "Carried
Away,” the [eighth] track of their latest album “Be Happy,” frontman
Jay Souza sings the most self aware line of his entire career:
“Everybody’s lookin’ for the thing they were meant to do/ I’ll sit
and sing a lonesome song.”
This record is the one they have been destined to make. It’s a quiet
and reserved meditation on discontentment, heartbreak and death
written with wit and clarity which takes incomprehensible and
conflicting emotions and gives them voice. There is nothing light or
simple about these songs. There are no anthems or power ballads,
nothing that resembles the mindless, disposable pop so prevalent on
modern airwaves.
The closest it comes to a love song is the opening track about a
fall down drunk who is “takin’ a shine to the widow next door.” The
narrator of the title track confesses to the object of his affection
that he loves her “for lack of a better word,” a romantic
proclamation that meets with less then successful results. Even the
album’s title comes off as ironic, a generic bumper sticker
affirmation that presides over a pensive and thoughtful collection
of lyrics.
Yet under all the wry smiles and wordplay there flows a current of
loss and sadness. What emerges is a record that is a reflection on
the past and a gaze into an uncertain future. The [third] track,
“Dressed For The Drought” deftly examines the disillusionment of The
Bush Years not with canned rage and hysteria but quiet frustration.
A similar sentiment is echoed in a line from Pachyderm: “You are
waving at catastrophe/ Well the same goes for me/ We are eager to be
gun-shy.” “Coat of Disappointment” grieves over a lost love, while
“Fast Life, Slow Death” mourns the rest of the path.
The entire look inward finally coalesces into “Carried Away,”
wherein Souza spells out his destiny over Bosco Sheff’s haunting
steel guitar. Then comes the closer, “New Fight Song,” the defiant
counterpoint to the proceeding songs, a guitar driven rocker with a
chorus that urges the listener to fall in love and “write the words
to a new fight song.” It’s a brave and rewarding choice, one that
says a little soul-searching is essential but to never give up the
battle.
Underlining all of this is some of the best music the band has ever
played. Drummer Mark Bennington and bassist Bryan Stone play with
dazzling subtlety, crafting a pocket that never seems flashy or
intrusive but rather breezes casually into each song like a soft
wind. BC Coulter’s jangling guitar provides a magnificent backdrop
to Bosco Sheff’s slides and steels, giving Sheff the freedom to play
some of his most reserved yet rewarding music to date.
Producer Peter Curry adds hints of cello and accordion throughout
the record, creating a deep and beautiful landscape of music where
sounds drift in and out like thoughts in a ponderous mind.
[Patrolled By Radar] has always had a way with writing songs that
felt genuine and human. At a time when contemporary music is crafted
to be used for a jingle or a movie soundtrack, “Be Happy” plays like
an old pal sitting at the next bar stool, each song a knowing and
reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Kurt Godwin
Easy Reader
[Patrolled By Radar] moseyed back into town recently with their
unique sound and positive message. For a number of years these laid
back musicians have been filling barstools and dancehalls in and
around the South Bay with their breed of music. And now, that same
soulful country style has morphed into a full blown movement in LA
and other large markets.
[Patrolled By Radar] is at the head of the movement by way of honest
music, great stage demeanor and a fan base that is as loyal as the
day is long. This very diverse crowd of twenty-somethings, tow truck
drivers on break, and a motorcycle club from Pasadena, all traveled
to see this band play their uplifting, spirited and heart felt
tunes. I imagine they would have traveled from much further if given
the choice. The Delta-slide driven sets were a combination of
creative harmonies and harmonica refrains that were all bound by
some clever musical hooks. Songs that I'd never heard before somehow
became instantly familiar melodies because of the way the tunes were
layered and well developed. These guys take time to write their
music, like they are painting on tablature.
Ryan Beachkofski
Empire UK
With their latest release, a concise 10-track collection titled
with, one hopes, a glimmer of irony, Be Happy, perennial L.A. combo
[Patrolled By Radar] distance themselves yet further from the Alt
Country label that they’ve sported somewhat uncomfortably since they
ventured onto the scene some eleven years and four albums ago.
As labels go, Americana is even vaguer than Alt Country but at least
it suggests a broader canvass, which is useful in this case. It also
evokes plenty of evocative stuff like crackly valve radios,
roadhouse crooners, bad whisky and worse women, all of which
resonate fulsomely throughout Be Happy, an album riven with enough
heartache, yearning and pain to satisfy the most die-hard C&W fans.
It also retains the band’s notorious balance of crunch and twang -
thunderous drums, rock solid bass and guitars that jangle and shred
in harmonious accord.
But it’s obvious that frontman and songwriter Jay Souza looks
farther afield for his inspiration than Nashville - or, indeed, the
United States. It’s not uncommon to read comments like “Johnny Cash
meets The Beatles” in [Patrolled By Radar] reviews, and they do have
some currency. There is, in the sly lyrics and brisk song
structures, echoes of classic Britpop that, to these ears at least,
recalls The Kinks and The Who more readily than The Beatles.
That said, Be Happy never strays far from its roots, which are
firmly planted in the American heartland. Be Happy is [Patrolled By
Radar's] most ambitious and satisfying album by far, a culmination
of fully matured songwriting, superb musicianship and a confident
and unique blend of styles. And the only label you need for that is
damn fine rock and roll.
Simon Braund
No-Fi Magazine
Well, this band is interesting. I saw a flyer for them that said "alt
honky tonk garage brit pop" and I thought- "Ha! Yeah, right. They
wish." But it is actually pretty accurate... The lyrics tell little
stories (ala Blur) and the music makes you bob your head and tap your
foot involuntarily.
Mary Bond
Pork Tartare
Jay Souza sounds like a mix between Brit Rock and Tom Petty, creating
solid vocals amidst a driving, sonic backdrop. A well done full length
[Brood or Change] for anyone in the mood for sing along rock and pop.
A favorite over here at the Empire of Swine.
Staff Writer
Alibi
With slide guitar, the lazy drawl and distressing tales of lost love,
[Patrolled By Radar] have the must-have tidbits of classic country
music without ignoring the "alternative" side of things. The two-sided
sound leads to comparisons to contemporaries like Sumack, a somewhat
vague but sure-fire reference, and long-standing rockers The Kinks...
This CD [Brood or Change] certainly reflects a few like-minded
gentlemen who work best together as a group to nail down the necessary
parts, which leads to each song being a complete work that can stand
on its own if need be.
Rachel Heisler
5twenty4
If I were driving Route 127 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque in my
1975 Chevy pickup, I’d definitely pop in [Patrolled By Radar] to my 8
track player....
Brood or Change, made me feel like I should be rocking out in a bar
with plenty of something cold on tap. The Clash, Waits, Costello, and
Cash are all a part of the sound that this LA-based band is pulling
off with great success.
But the sound is still their own, lead by a unique voice, great
lyrics, catchy compositions and excellent musicianship....
My friends know that I am perhaps the biggest music snob there is and
these guys are going to stay in my CD player for a while.
Thank you, [Patrolled By Radar], thank you for reaffirming that great
music is being made despite the best efforts of Blink 182...
Staff Writer
Radio Crystal Blue
[Patrolled By Radar] neatly borrows and begs from all the songs that
made early rock n' roll, classic rock and contemporary rock so
memorable.
First time I heard "Fiction" I envisioned my radio as a time machine,
playing all the sounds from the 50's to the 70's all at once.
Those with a real love for classic rock and all its nuances will
quickly find themselves fans of this great California group.
Dan Herman
The Music Never Stops/KPFK 90.7
In addition to liking the band and the album, I very much dig [the]
writing. The lyrics are truly artful in all the best ways. One doesn't
get to hear well-crafted, intelligent lyrics much anymore...
There's not enough of that in contemporary American songcraft. The
craftsmanship and wit are appreciated!
Barry Smolin
Delusions of Adequacy
Like the Kinks reborn as honky-tonk hillbillies or an alt-country band
that has read Oscar Wilde, the LA-based fivesome combines the best of
British barbs with all that’s good and great in Americana. Think
drawling vocals, jerky American-gothic guitars, soaring choruses, and
you’re on the right track. In other words...pretty damn good.
Dave Mcgonigle
Groundwaves
[Patrolled By Radar] is an irreverent L.A. rock band whose sound could
have belonged to the Beatles if they'd grown up in Austin instead of
Liverpool.
Joshua Edelstein
Miles of Music
"Alt. Honky-Tonk Garage BritPop." Not too far off the mark, though
probably favoring the BritPop edge, heavy with warm, rootsy
undercurrents… has a fluid, indefinable sound where all of these
elements mix.
Capable of swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other, they
prefer mostly to get groovy with lazily nuanced melodies floating over
acoustic-driven rock… the distinct arrangements allow each song its
own sound.
Staff Writer