Ellington

I've been a Peabody junkie for years. I first caught this dead-ahead New Orleans rock band more than 10 years ago at an Anne Rice coven party. They've been in my head ever since. As befitting the title of their fourth album, it's been a while since Peabody's last outing. After all, "These Things Take Time" (Halt Music Co.). Man, was it worth it! I listened all the way back from New Orleans, where the band had its recent CD release party at the Howlin' Wolf. I catch it on headsets in my office every chance I get. OK, I'm addicted again.

Karen Protti's straight-on, no-nonsense vocals hit the mark with heavenly harmonizing vocals. Her drummer husband Chris Bailey's lyrics complement Steven Dennis' masterful guitar licks and Lou Carollo's bass line. Toss in a guest lineup that includes horns from Mulebone's Mark Mullins, Jason Mingledorff and Brian Graber, sensational organ solos from John Gros of Papa Grows Funk, with damn fine mastering from Piety Street Recording in the Big Easy, and you've got a CD that begs to be played.

"Way Wrong" is trademark Peabody; a dance-y tune that sets the stage with power drumming and some of the coolest lyrics: "And Mr. Green Jeans on a park bench, And your candy man pays the rent, And you have Buddha in the corner with a glass of water, And you're telling me it will be all right."

Segueing right into "Why Not," the band rocks out with surprising horn slices, adding a bit of brass funk. "Wondering" slows down the pace with a more somber feel. Yet Protti still manages to catch you like a deer in the headlights with her haunting vocals.

A thoughtful "Listen To Me" sets a mellow mid-tempo with some nice vocal overlays and additional percussion. "If I could take every wish you made and throw it away, And erase everything you truly meant, what would you say?"

Peabody locked the door with "You're Not Welcome," a sultry, head-nodder that says, "For too long you continue to hang out, where you don't belong, so now I'm here to tell you, you may want to stay, but you're not welcome here." Protti's sad-voiced "Leave" makes you want to shed a tear: "I wish I had a blueprint so I could reconstruct my life."

The shortest tune, a Middle Eastern-tinged ditty, "Squandered Year," (a mere 1:10) is about losing time in line. "Minute on top of minute, I see everyone in line to eat, to sleep, to breathe, to hear." "Crystal Ball" is a downright funky tale of steering clear of riffraff with an excellent organ solo from John Gros.

The album's only cover tune, The Reivers' obscure '60s psychodelia, "Lazy Afternoon," is one of my favorite cuts. It's trip-hoppy with a heapin' of horns and a sweet Steven Dennis guitar solo. The final cut, an instrumental "Placid and Still," is suitable for a Renaissance fest. Very unexpected, yet a cleverly crafted finale.

"These Things Take Time" is Peabody's most confident and well-rounded album to date. There isn't a single "skip over" tune in this 13-track crank-it-up mix. Ritchie Champagne's photography and computer graphics add a very stellar groove; the shot of a giant Karen Protti holding the guys in her hand begs to be a poster.

For more info, see www.peabodymusic.com

Reviewed by JC Patterson