Prelude to Mutiny review by GKS

One of my absolute favorite reviews of our albums was by none other that the coolest kids on the kooky-music block, Greasy Kid Stuff. If ye have been missing the boat, make sure ye listen to their show, Saturday mornings on 94.7 FM.

I wanted to give this review of our third album, Prelude to Mutiny, it it's own hallowed posting on this here new website/blog/jollyboat. 

A bit like a lucky feather in the old tricorn cap...

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Maybe it’s not saying much to call Captain Bogg & Salty our favorite pirate band, but let’s go out on a limb and say they might just be our favorite band period. If you count the sheer number of plays their CDs have received in our household, no other artist even comes close. Yes, it helps that we have a toddler who names “pirate music” among the things she loves most, but the fact is, we listen to Captain Bogg & Salty all the time, even when we don’t have to. This is music that’ll have you cranking up the car stereo and singing at the top of your lungs after you’ve dropped the kids off at soccer practice.

Now, some might pigeonhole Captain Bogg & Salty as a kiddie band or a novelty act or a comedy troupe or something, and we wouldn’t argue with them (not too much, anyway). But we would be obliged to point out that they are just about the best kiddie band/novelty act/comedy troupe we’ve ever encountered — and as hosts of a long-running radio show for children, we’ve encountered a lot.

Hilariously funny and endlessly inventive, these guys have wrung three excellent albums from what, in less capable hands, could have become a tired joke in about three minutes. Listening to their latest CD, Prelude to Mutiny, it becomes apparent why the joke hasn’t worn thin: it isn’t merely a joke. Some of these songs scratch a musical itch not satisfied since the mid-eighties heyday of the Mekons and the Pogues.

Filling in the gaps of Treasure Island, snatching choice bits of dialogue from U2 albums and Alice in Wonderland (or is that Peter Pan?), retooling Toy Dolls, Tom Waits and The Little Mermaid for their own piratical purposes, Captain Bogg & Salty try on musical styles like freshly pillaged clothes, and are convincing every step of the way. Genre-hopping? Well, how else would you get from sea chantey to surf rock, from rockabilly to AC/DC–style metal, on just the one leg?

Look, with Sleater-Kinney calling it quits, someone has to assume the mantle of “America’s Greatest Rock Band,” right? Well, we hereby nominate Captain Bogg & Salty! Why they don’t already have a Saturday-morning cartoon show and their own line of action figures is quite beyond us.

 — Belinda & Hova “Greasy Kid Stuff”

Psssst, avast there. Ye can purchase Prelude to Mutiny at CDBaby.com.

 

Parent's Choice review

Here be the official review of Emphatical Piratical by Parent's Choice:

The Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise has done more to awaken people to the colorful mythology of pirates than even Robert Louis Stevenson could have imagined. Since there is no traditional pirate music to rediscover, artists such as Captain Bogg & Salty have had to invent their own. Formed in 1998 by the pairing of Kevin Hendrickson of the popular Portland rock band Pirate Jenny, with 3rd Floor sketch comedy troupe actor and writer Loren Hoskins; they are now in their tenth year (no mere hobby this) of making pirate music. Emphatical Piratical represents both their forth and latest album of music for kids. So how far can the pirate theme go? Well, with witty writers and skillful musicians as these, apparently there is no limit. The opening title track sets the tone by combining equal parts of Popeye's swagger, The Bowery Boys' penchant for malapropos, and music "pirated" from the operetta Orpheus in the Underworld. Elsewhere, "Don't Drink Your Seawater" is a nonsense song, set to Pogues-like Celtic rock, while "Portside," teaches the nautical stations of a ship by employing electro Hip Hop beats. "Trading The Seas For Pirate Gold"; and "Frogg Island" both use Reggae and Caribbean rhythms by people who actually know how to play them. "The Purple Tiki" is a great bit of Spike Jones style lunacy, complete with tribal drums and rhymes that would impress even Gilbert and Sullivan.

2009 Parents Choice Award!

Oh goodie goodie rumdrops... I just got the word that Emphatical Piratical has been designated a 2009 Parent's Choice Recommended Award winner! Parents Choice has been a trusted reviewer of children's media and toys since 1978. We were fortunate enough to bring home the gold in 2005 with our 2nd album, maybe you've heard of it, a little CD I like to call Pegleg Tango, but I am proper pleased to find that we made the list again.

It's only just been announced. The official listing and documentation is on the way. Stand by mates.

Huzzah!

~Capt.Bogg

Chicago Tribune "falls in love" with Emphatical Piratical

More good news in the gathering glimmer of gold that is Emphatical Piratical. Here be a write up in the Chicago Tribune called "10 CDs for kids you'll fall in love with too." Guess who made the list?

Yars to Yours.

~ Capt. Bogg

Never Smile at a Crocodile

Captain Bogg & Salty make their second appearance among the Covering the Mouse ranks. Check it out mateys, it's a website dedicated to interpretations, variations, and covers of classic Disney songs.

Tick tock tick tock,

~ Capt. Bogg

Green Man Review

A new review of Emphatical Piratical by Green Man!

Rather a fun read, says I.

~ Capt. Bogg

Emphatical Piratical in Time Out NY

This just in... review of Captain Bogg & Salty's newest album in Time Out NY.

How YAR is that?

~ Capt.Bogg

Gustafer Yellowgold in PortTown

As ye well know our new album, Empatical Piratical, be making the rounds in all manner of publications these days -- lots of fine reviews and coverage. Now, I do enjoy these times because, among other things, we are included with other "Fids and Kamily" acts that I have yet to find out about for meself.

Keeps poppin up on the charts is one Gustafer Yellowgold. At first my interest was peeked, as any pirates would be, to be sure, by his name alone. (Yar!) Then, however I ran across this here review on About.com. It matches both our bands up so nicely, I couldn't help but be intrigued. So, now I've been wanting to see them for meself, and lo... they are coming to Portland this Saturday!

I got no excuse now mates and perhaps, neither do ye. Maybe I'll see ye there.

If ye want to check the show the NY Times calls "a cross between 'Yellow Submarine' and Dr. Seuss." you can find out more information from our mates at Curious Comedy Theater.

We cool kindie bands got to stick together, so I thought I just might bid them welcome here in the homeport of the Pollywogg.

~Capt.Bogg

Gustafer Yellowgold

@ Curious Comedy Theater

Saturday, April 4th

11am - 2pm