The Electric Mile

Performer: G. Love & Special Sauce
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: This is an enhanced audio CD which contains regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. G. Love & Special Sauce: Garrett Dutton (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Jeff Clemens (vocals, drums); Jim Prescott (string bass). Additional personnel includes: Alma (vocals); Arty (viola); Hoch (cello); John Medeski (organ, Moog synthesizer); Dave Geller (congas); Jamie Janover, Billy Conway (percussion). Producers: Chris DiBeneditto, G. Love & Special Sauce. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Ever since Elvis Presley hit it big mixing rhythm & blues with country, white artists--from the Rolling Stones to the Beastie Boys--have achieved success by integrating black music into the (white) mainstream. G. Love has taken that concept one step further by mixing traditionally black forms --hip-hop, reggae, the blues of the Mississippi Delta, and the soul music of his native Philly--with peripheral styles like the mutated blues-rock of Jimi Hendrix, country, New Orleans r&b, and even jazz. He comes up with a sound he can call his own. The fusion is even richer than before on Love's fifth album. "Hopeless Case" adds late-Beatles psychedelic touches to the mix without sounding the least bit retro or pretentious. "Night of the Living Dead" is an exquisitely sung funk/jazz workout (with violin and highly realistic barking-dogs intro) that concludes with a jam reminiscent of the original Butterfield Band during their EAST/WEST experimental period. Highly recommended.

Entertainment Weekly (4/27/01, p.118) - "...Love continues to merge genres like hip-hop, swamp blues, and ska, but the real secret is the sly songwriting, which turns his groove gumbos into sardonic meditations on bruised romance..." - Rating: B+

The Philadelphia-based singer and guitarist has been standing at the intersection of hip-hop, the blues, and white-boy frat-house grooves since the release of his 1994 debut, G. LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE. While Love is not above being a bit corny at times ("Cold Beverages," anyone?), he's a true student of the music he uses to create his funky sonic bouillabaisse. And with a backing band (the Special Sauce) as enthusiastic about getting down as himself, Love has been able to sustain a surprisingly long and varied career while maintaining a vision uniquely his own.

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