Opinion: Solid Sharks CD

From a distance, the cover of The Lone Sharks' new CD, "Fire, Theft & Casualty" looks like a scene out of Dante's Inferno - bodies writhing and fire roaring. Closer inspection reveals no gnashing of teeth at all, just a group of scantily clad cowboys and honky-tonk women whooping it up at a Lone Sharks show.

Even at their best, the Sharks couldn't inspire such bacchanalia, but Jim Gingerich's painting captures what The Lone Sharks are all about: dancing, revelry, and rock-and-roll. To an extent, the CD evokes that spirit as well, although, like its cover, the CD also promises a bit more than it delivers.

That's not to say "Fire, Theft & Casualty" isn't a quality CD; it just lacks a few critical elements, namely smoke, the flow of booze, and a dance floor full of twisting couples. The Lone Sharks are a band meant to be seen live, and anyone who hasn't seen the vintage-rock-and-roll and rockabilly unit perform live probably doesn't get out much.

Spotlighting Originals

The Sharks have reigned comfortably as the area's best and busiest dance band for the past several years, churning it out everywhere from wine tastings and weddings to their favorite haunt, Bridgehampton's Wild Rose Cafe.

The Sharks' Thursday night gigs at the Wild Rose have become a tradition for those who like to dance and are a safe bet for a good night out, even in the dead of winter.

So, after nearly seven years of rocking out Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Gene Vincent covers, the Sharks were ripe for a CD. Wisely, the foursome chose to spotlight its original music, which sometimes gets lost in the mix onstage. All but one of the CD's 10 songs - a funked-up version of Willie Dixon's "Pretty Thing" - are originals.

Other Realms

Having spent time in New York and Nashville, the Sharks' frontman and guitarist, Gene Casey, is well-schooled in vintage rock-and-roll, and his songwriting is true to the old styles - almost to a fault. Some of the CD's straightforward rockers sound fairly standard-issue.

There's the "two-lane troubadour" in the title track beckoning "Push the pedal to the metal and let the engine roar," and the honky-tonk queen, who's "One-half drop-dead beautiful and the other half insane."

It's hard to fault the Sharks for sticking true to their bread and butter, but the band is at its best on the CD when it departs from rock and rockabilly altogether and delves into other realms, riskier territory.

There are some exceptions: the CD's piano-pounding second track, "I Ain't Dead Yet," is beautifully gritty and comes as close as the CD gets to representing the Sharks live. The opening number, "Swing, Baby Swing" has a perfect rockabilly premise of getting in one last fling before the old playhouse comes down: "Swing, baby swing/That's what I heard 'em sing/One last call before we fall/One step ahead of the wrecking ball."

The musicianship throughout "Fire, Theft & Casualty" is flawless, although the studio seems to have filtered away some of the Sharks' on-stage energy. The drummer Chris Ripley and the bassist Mike Saccoliti lay down a clean, driving, but essentially risk-free rhythm.

Meanwhile, the Stetson-sporting Mr. Casey leaves himself only a few small openings for guitar solos, too slim to demonstrate his normally show-grabbing guitar work.

"The Snizz"

The only Shark who seems to have free rein the whole way through is the keyboardist Andy Burton, who takes full advantage of it with some masterful organ and piano. Perhaps a live recording or two could have helped recreate The Lone Sharks' live appeal.

The band does get to shine collaboratively on two solid instrumentals on the CD, "Love Theme From 'Chalker,' " and the brilliantly funky "The Snizz, Part 2." Free from style constraints, the group's individuality rises to the surface.

"The Snizz, Part 2" is particularly engaging, with an infectious melody and beat reminiscent of The Meters and Booker T. Band members cheer their way through the song in the background and each progression ends with a group shout of the title.

A Solid 40 Minutes

The other highlights of the CD come in the form of two pretty ballads, the Motown-influenced "I Thought You Were Somebody Else," and an atmospheric country-western lament called "Cowboy Grave." The latter, with its low-toned Johnny Cash-style guitar line and echoing reverb, is real can-o-beans stuff, without being hokey, even when Mr. Casey begins whistling the melody. The lyrics equate dying with "end of the trail":

"Montana mamma/Forever passing through/Take the trail you know so well/I'll be waiting there for you . . .High and lonesome/Home of the brave/Throw your roses on the stone/Down at the cowboy grave."

All in all, "Fire, Theft, & Casualty" provides a solid, if not impassioned 40 minutes of music and a good sampling of the group's versatility. It may be Lone Sharks-lite, but it's a fine introduction for anyone who hasn't heard much of the band. For those who have, it's an ample Shark-substitute for those times when you can't get out to see them live, or, as another reviewer put it, in case of a "Lone Shark attack."

The CD is for sale at Long Island Sound in East Hampton and Southampton and at The Lone Sharks' shows.