Superhero Brother :: Education by Design Store

Editorial Review
Superhero Brother, recorded in Philadelphia at The Studio and the band's own Philadelphonic Studios, as well as Longview Farms Barn in Sturbridge, MA, combines both political and party songs. The album is a reflection of the band's eclectic recipe for its Special Sauce, from tasty, post-hip-hop Beatles-influenced blues-rock ("Communication"), spicy tropical island rhythms over an Archie Bell and the Drells "Tighten Up" groove ("City Livin'") and well-seasoned Chambers Brothers-style funk-rock crossed with Cream's "I Feel Free" ("What We Need") to sweet, blue-eyed Philly soul ("Crumble"), a red-hot Stones-y "Sympathy for the Devil" vibe ("Peace Love and Happiness") and homemade, rappin' blues layered on top of a John Lee Hooker Delta stomp ("Superhero Brother").

"I think of us as a rock and roll group," explains G. Love. "We definitely incorporate a lot of different flavors, which is why we tried to focus on what we're known for this time... Making sure the backbeats are funky. Each song tells a unique story, both in subject and musical style."

Tracks like "Peace Love and Happiness" and the title cut deal with social issues, something G. found hard to ignore.

"With the election coming up and the war on everybody's minds, there's no way some of those feelings could've escaped being on this record," he says.

"Peace Love and Happiness" was inspired by a trip G. Love made to the same slums of Rio de Janeiro depicted in the movie City of God, asking pointed questions like "How come the presidents just build more bombs/When they should start disarming?/With all that money spent on guns/Instead of food and education."

"The experience just hit me really hard," he admits. "We had this great day playing music for the kids. I just went straight back to the hotel and wrote the song before the show, then performed it for them."

"Superhero Brother" finds G. Love playing the role of savior, with tongue firmly in cheek and harp in mouth as he name-checks Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden, Britney Spears, Jesus and the whole cast of Friends, vowing to solve the myriad of problems in the Middle East by sending the troops on the first plane home to their moms.

"Wiggle Worm" combines G's Little Walter blues harp, Houseman's big rock drum beat a la Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" and ex-Goats member Mark Boyce's Dr. Dre keyboard swoops into a brand-new dance craze, while "Soft and Sweet" boasts rap rhythms, acoustic guitars and a Dylanesque harp.

"I wrote `Soft and Sweet' in Costa Rica several years ago on vacation, imagining how great fatherhood was going to be," says G. "These days, it's all about music and being a dad."

Customer Reviews

Big Fan

2008-09-02
I'm a big fan Of G. Love and really like this CD. Even though not as gritty as prior CD's, still very good.

Good album

2008-08-08
G. Love is a fantastic artist and has great views on life. This album is great. Lemonade was a great follow up to Hustle which sold a lot of copies. Superhero Brother is different however, since he stepped it up and played more up beat songs that slower songs. But you got to give him credit for recording "Who's Got The Weed?" after years of playing it live, now was a great time to lay it on a track for an album. Balls to the wall and definitely diggin that. Keep up the good work.

G Love's new CD Does Not Disappoint

2008-07-28
A great listen, with a softer more acoustic sound. I liked it even better than Lemonade, which I loved!

Could be better

2008-07-25
I still like G Love, but this album has the same ol sound to it. Definitely not his best. Wish he would go back to the sounds of his older stuff; ie: Coast To Coast Motel, Yeah, Its That Easy and Philadelphonic. The best track is #2, City Living. Has a couple other good jams, but this one falls a little short. Still worth a buy if your a fan, so I gave it 3 outta 5 stars.

More than your money's worth

2008-07-19
Listen, I don't know how anyone can give this cd a bad review. The only bad thing I found about this cd is it is only 12 tracks which is unlike g love. But even though it is a couple songs shorter than what I wished it would be it is still great. It starts out with "Communication" which has the same style as "astronaut" from the Hustle. "City Living" is the second track and it is a different style but still a good song. "Wiggle Worm" is a party song. Every song on the record is really a party song but "Wiggle worm" tops them all. It has the same sound as "Cold Beverage", or some old G. The harmonic is raw and it is a great song. If you are reading this you prolly heard "Peace, Love, and Happiness" already. The next song, "Soft and Sweet" sounds alot like "Hot Cookin", and is the same style has alot of the songs on Lemonade. "Wontcha come home" is the next track is more of a reggae/ska type song like "Give it to you" from the Hustle. "Crumble" is a softer song. I can't really think of one of his songs to compare it too, but they put more keys on the track than any GLSP song I ever heard. It is still a good song, softer, but still good. "What we need" is my favorite song on the cd. Funky, fresh, and filled with energy. The style of the song is a mix between something from Philadelhponic and The Hustle. "Georgia Brown" is my least favorite song but it still good. It's just a typical G-love song hear, kinda like "gone fishing" from the Hustle. "Whose got the weed" is an awesome song sober, and I have a feeling it is better under certain conditions. "Super Hero Brother" is the perfect closer. Raw acoustic blues.

Again, it kinda sux that there are only 12 songs cause your gonna want more. And I would prefer a couple more acoustic songs on their as well. But this is a cd you can't go wrong. Out of all his cd's this one has the most energy and I can't wait to see him jam this songs out live. If you like G love even the slightest bit, buy this cd. It is way more than what you are gonna pay for.

The band that never sleeps!

2008-06-30
Superhero Brother, recorded in Philadelphia at The Studio and the band's own Philadelphonic Studios, as well as Longview Farms Barn in Sturbridge, MA, combines both political and party songs. The album is a reflection of the band's eclectic recipe for its Special Sauce, from tasty, post-hip-hop Beatles-influenced blues-rock ("Communication"), spicy tropical island rhythms over an Archie Bell and the Drells "Tighten Up" groove ("City Livin'") and well-seasoned Chambers Brothers-style funk-rock crossed with Cream's "I Feel Free" ("What We Need") to sweet, blue-eyed Philly soul ("Crumble"), a red-hot Stones-y "Sympathy for the Devil" vibe ("Peace Love and Happiness") and homemade, rappin' blues layered on top of a John Lee Hooker Delta stomp ("Superhero Brother").

Tracks like "Peace Love and Happiness" and the title cut deal with social issues, something G. found hard to ignore.

"With the election coming up and the war on everybody's minds, there's no way some of those feelings could've escaped being on this record," he says.

"I wrote `Soft and Sweet' in Costa Rica several years ago on vacation, imagining how great fatherhood was going to be," says G. "These days, it's all about music and being a dad."

"Wontcha Come Home" is a cover of an old Jamaican rock steady song by The Conquerers on the famed Trojan label, buttressed by Jazz and Houseman's Sly & Robbie-like rhythm section, while the rollicking "Who's Got the Weed," featuring The Pharcyde MC Slim Kid Tre, begins with a bong hit and recounts the true story of Love trying to smuggle some particularly pungent homegrown Buddha aboard a plane in his shoe while stinking up the whole aisle. "I keep the crip close to my hip," he sings.

First Listen, Nice Sound 2008-06-28
I've been a fan for a while and like to see a band's sound grow. To me, this is a live band. Whenever they come thru Chicago I make a point of seeing them (small venue, great show!). I picture a number of the songs on this CD coming across well live. If you like the G. Love sound, see them when they come to your town. The recorded stuff does not do G. and the band justice. If you want to get your toes wet try the greatest hits CD first, you'll be hooked.

Great New Sound 2008-06-26
In opposition to the previous reviewer, I thought this was a great album. With the keys added the whole band has gained a rock structure that they just couldn't tout as well before. The opening track is a clever meld of genre's, one of G. Love's old tricks and City Livin will get stuck in your head in a matter of minutes. I must say i did not like Wiggle like a Worm, it didn't really fit into the rest of the album. P,L&H sounds just like a good old Stones song. Georgia Brown and Crumble are my other two favorites on the album, the former being a twist on the common blues progression with some nice vocals by G. Love and the latter has some great piano playing and is a great twist on a gospel like groove. What G. Love has shown recently, if he has a lack of talent in amazing lyrics, is he has a great sense for production, the harmonica is also improved on this album and I'll be damned if you don't like it. G. Love knows he isn't out to save the world, he just wants to bring everyone a little fun.

Deeply Disappointed 2008-06-26
I am truly stunned about how different this album is from the rest of G.Love's collection. Especially following the release of Lemonade (my favorite album). Every song on the cd sounds very similar to songs created before, and always goes back to some chorus mixed with various support vocals. It reminds me of the Jack Johnson's Curious George Album, haha. A sing-a-long.

Unlike Lemonade, and the many albums before it, G.Love rushed this one and took a hit on creativity, and uniqueness. I can only enjoy the past, and hope for the future.