Welcome to the Become a CD Reviewer for EVOR!.
We are opening up the CD review process to anyone that wants to write a professional review. All you need to do is listen to the MP3 files that we provided for the band or artist and write your review.

Reviews follow a specific format so use the form below to write your review. Once we have published 5 of your CD reviews you will be mailed an official EVOR Reviewer Baseball shirt. They look great and are made in the USA! So pick out any CD listed below, listen to all the MP3 files then write your review.

The EvO:R CD Review Team

 CD title - Slap Happy
by Jumpin' Juba

 Crack in the Ceiling /   Jessie Mae /   Black Bag /   You're so Simple /   Hawaiian War Chant / 

 Rambling Burglar / 

Slap Happy was a good name for this CD which combines southern rock and 70's classic rock. The band sound is like Thin Lizzy meets Dr. Hook and the Medicane Show. Jumpin' Juba combines Steve Hurl's outlet for Rootsy-blues, American blues, New Orleans swamp-rock, Classic boogie-woogie, Folk, Memphis Rock & Roll, and a playful use of everything from Calypso to Country are stirred into the band's stew.

Singer Steve Hurl's vocals are very close to the late Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott of the 70's era rock band Thin Lizzy. So close that he could leave the band tonight and form a very successful Thin Lizzy tribute band. Toss in a bit of Cajin flavor like Dr. Hook (even though Steve is not from New Orleans) along with some Arlo Guthrie story telling and you've got an idea about what to expect from this band.

This is a 6 song EP lasting about 28 minutes concluding with 'Rambling Burglar' a story about a crook breaking into a house to rob a family only to find out that the family he was robbing was out robbing his own house. Ya, it's a complicated story to explain but one that is easy to follow when you hear the song. Although the EP was a solid offering the final track was by far the best song out of the six on this EP.

I was a little taken by the CD cover designed by Gordon Forman which was a cartoon picture of a clown being slapped in the face by a red fingernailed woman (or a guy that digs fingernail polish). You have to figure that there was a story behind the CD cover. I searched the artist's website and looked at comments on CD Baby but never was able to get an explaination for the CD cover. I can only use my warped imagination thinking that the picture was a clown making a pickup line and getting in trouble for his activity.

Recorded and Mastered at 7A West Studios with engineer work was done by Mike Caglianone. After listening to plenty of well recorded independent CD's during the past 6 months I would have to say that this offering was not up to par with the better recorded CD's. The sound quality was just short of hitting the mark. Many of the guitar parts sounded a bit weak to me. It was as if they placed the mics for the guitars a bit to far from the speakers leaving the sound a bit too airy for my taste. The drums also lacked that knock out punch that I have been hearing from many of the better recordings I have reviewed in the past.

Vocally speaking, the CD was near perfect as the engineer knew a thing our two about how to record vocals properly. Hurl's voice was recorded without all that vocal killing reverb and delay. I have always liked vocals recorded clean and flat without excessive effects.

This is a great CD to pop in the player and open a cold one while sitting back and listening to some great music. The band is probably a great party band and I would love to frequent a local club to listen to this band. They just seem to have a lot of fun playing together.
I give them 4 stars for performance but take off a 1/2 point for the studio effort which I think could have been better. The bottom line...3 1/2 stars and a lot of fun.

Want EvO:R to review your music?
It will be honest and above all, very interesting. All you need to do is send your CD to:

Charlie Harrelson
EvOR Reviewer
855 Markham Wood Rd
Longwood, Fl.
32779