Bumpa

Critters Buggin is a band every (molecular) record-store owner must hate. Where do you file a band that jumps from skronk jazz to dance beats to frenetic turntable scratching? And how do you classify tunes like these when elements of world music--tablas and congas--occasionally kick in? Well, you sit back and enjoy the ride. The Critters Buggin collective--four guys with more than enough horns, samplers, drums, effects pedals, guitars, and energy to go around--traverse the entire musical spectrum on Bumpa, from drum & bass to funk. Some cuts sound like the ROVA Saxophone Quartet gone groovy--really groovy. "Flouride" is a crazed keyboard rock romp, "I Ate Lucy" is almost straight jazz, and "Brozo the Clone" is just tame enough to be labeled as acid jazz. File under: fun. --Jason Verlinde