Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Elvis Costello, Johnny Dowd, Nick Cave, Tom Waits

• Wild
•   Wild
•   Little Cisco
• Lethal Dose

The Reds are a band that many people have forgotten about. They put out an album in 1979 on A&M records in the label's heyday but then after providing a few songs for Miami Vice they fell off into obscurity. Well, it's 2007 and The Reds are back. In reality they never really went anywhere. They've been putting out albums every once and a while but Fugitives From The Laughing House is this music reviewers first exposure to the Philly based band. The songs on here are only half-way there though. I felt as though something is missing. Almost like the final touches didn't make it in. "Little Cisco" is a great song but it is really rough around the edges. It's Rick Shaffer's voice that I don't enjoy and it seems as though a lot of the songs should have been cut off at the three minute mark rather than droning on for over 5 minutes. "Reaching For The Gold" is a case example. The music on Fugitives is fun with a cool mix of keyboards and guitar but it comes off dated with the heavy reverb they use. 

The Reds have got a bit of a blues flavor to them making me think that a Tom Waits or Johnny Dowd fan might find something in The Reds. Or if you may remember their 1979 self-titled album, check out this one and see if they have indeed gone anywhere in 30 years.