As difficult as it is to say exactly what
swamp pop
is or isn't (a quick try would be to say that it is vocal group-inspired
R&B
with some
Cajun
and
zydeco
elements tossed in, although there are plenty of exceptions to any definition one could make), it is fundamentally a Louisiana and East Texas-based dance music with a bit of a late-'50s
pop
feel.
Swamp pop
may be hard to pin down, but you damn well know it when you hear it. Or put another way, anything a
artist plays is therefore
by default, which pretty much leaves the door wide open. This pleasant sampler of artists on the
Mardi Gras Records
roster doesn't exactly clear up any questions about what
is, but it sure is fun to listen to, and it swings gently from start to finish. Highlights include the opener,
Charles Mann
's
take on
Dire Straits
'
"Walk of Life,"
Bill Matte
's accordion, guitar, and triangle take on
"Bye Bye Puppy Love,"
Link Davis, Jr.
's version of the classic
"Honky Tonk"
instrumental, although there really isn't a weak link in this whole set. Fun stuff, no matter what you call it. ~ Steve Leggett