Reviews

Scott McCord and the Bonafide Truth Review

Scott McCord and the Bonafide Truth’s new self-titled album is a funky, classy, jazzy work of musical brilliance. Hailing from Toronto, singer-songwriter Scott McCord leads the 8-piece band on vocals as well as acoustic guitar, while Simon Craig rocks electric guitar with Charlie James on bass, Chad Davis on drums, and David Atkinson on keyboard. Additionally, the band boasts a powerful brass section comprised of saxophonist Todd Porter, trumpeter Steve Dyte, and trombonist Christian Overton. With such a diverse array of musical talent, it’s no wonder Scott McCord and the Bonafide Truth have created such an eclectic and unique sound.

The album’s opener, “Deploy the Bird,” combines blaring horns with an R&B vibe to lure you into the band’s signature sound. In “Gotta Be Something,” James and Atkinson work with Davis to fuel a funky beat as McCord shows off his versatile vocals and Craig wails in a bluesy guitar solo, all accented by the band’s smoking horn section—and these guys really are hot in “This Heart is On Fire.” The Lennon/McCartney cover “Baby You’re a Rich Man” takes the Beatles’ sound and infuses it with brass and blues. “Where Did You Go?” is a soulful ballad with a jazzy yet bluesy R&B feel, while “Turn Around” is a dynamite blues machine to lead into the sunshiny “Much Better.”  “Certainty” is a great fast-paced and uplifting tune to precede the final track, “Ocean,” which is a lulling and satisfying conclusion to this fantastic album. McCord cries that he’s “never looking back” in this song, but sure enough the band will have you circling right back to the beginning of the album for a replay. As a whole, the album flows together magnificently from track to track, broken up with interludes to keep things fresh and exciting.

Scott McCord and the Bonafide Truth’s self-titled album is a follow-up to their 2009 debut album Blues For Sunshine. In 2010 the band was nominated Best New Artist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards, and were also a big hit at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis that same year. This second album is a testament to Scott McCord and the Bonafide Truth’s great talent, and proves all eight members to be bonafide musical masterminds.

The Review: 9/10

Can’t Miss Tracks:

– Gotta Be Something
– Baby You’re A Rich Man
– Turn Around
– Much Better
– Bad For You
– Certainty

The Big Hit

– Gotta Be Something

Review by Eileen Quaranto

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