Montreal Band Karmadoza pays tribute to The B-52s

 

 

Paying great homage to the “world’s greatest party” band but forgoing the bouffant hairdos, progressive band Karmadoza’s latest album – “K-52s – A Tribute to The B-52s” – is chock full of splendid songs from the new wave rock pioneers The B-52s.  Karmadoza features a collection of Montreal’s hip accomplished musicians:  Guitarist Stéphane Vigeant (Floating Widget, Madking Ludwig, Groovy Aardvark), Vocalist Vicky Martel (Vénus 3, Killing Venus), Guitarist François Legendre (Paranoland, Groovy Aardvark, Lumberjack), Drummer Raphaël Corbeil (Madking Ludwig), and Bassist/Vocalist Vincent Peake (Kosmos, Floating Widget, Groovy Aardvark, Grim Skunk).

     Karmadoza’s eleven song album – currently available for download through www.emusic.com – features The B-52s classics of their signature anthem 52 Girls, Lava, and 6060-842 from their kitschy self-titled debut album.  Karmadoza’s 52 Girls version rivals that of the Offspring’s cover.  The rhythm section really savages the beat.  Vicky’s melodious vocals equally match both Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson.  Vincent `a la Fred Schneider harmoniously duets with Vicky, keeping the music as amusing as it should be.  The more psychedelic Private Idaho, Dirty Back Road, Strobe Light, and Give Me Back My Man – a campy song about a woman losing her “man” to a man-eating shark – from the “Wild Planet album”.  Karmadoza exhibit these absurd renditions in fabulous style.  My favorite cover is Channel Z, a quirky tune about a fictional radio station. 

     This album is the pursuit of fun loving pop culture at its best.  Rather than being nostalgic, the usually rock/metal influenced Karmadoza modernizes The B-52s sound without imitating it.  Their purpose is pure; the quality is inventive.  It’s a fresh, liberating musicianship as opposed to cheesy pop-tart art.  If The B-52s welded punk rock into new wave, then Karmadoza transformed new wave back into punk rock. 

     To find out more, please visit Karmadoza’s Myspace page at www.myspace.com/karmadoza.

 

Click here for a free download of “52 Girls”  http://www.karmadoza.com/K52/52_Girls.mp3
Enjoy!