Extra Crispy is like an order of the Colonel's chicken, extremely tasty, a bit greasy, certainly filling... but is it really good for you? I wonder!

The songs are 12-bar blues, and you'll recognize the melodies, but the lyrics are new and quite entertaining. All written by Richard DiPaolo, who is also the singer and guitarist, these songs are funny, a tad risqué, and always interesting.

"Call me the lumpy, I'm a lumpy man.
Call me the lumpy, I'm a lumpy man.
I got lumps upon my head an' a big lump down in my pants!"
All this over a standard blues progression, highlighted by the howling harmonica of Ron Bauman, and a bass-line played by Gerry Yoselevich on TUBA! Taj Mahal has tried this tuba experiment and I loved it there - it is equally good here!

"Fool to Love You" has a familiar sounding verse (think Bruce Springsteen) but takes a turn into the chorus, when Edy Tousaint joins DiPaolo in a haunting harmony. "March for Blanche" features the exquisite mandolin playing of Brian Malloy, and a different harp player (Jay Nolan) who adds a country feel to a Celtic melody. Percussion is provided by Bob Gainer throughout, and he gives everything a solid foundation.

"Womanizer Blues" reports the problem of having "three girls all living' in the same town" - the main problem being..."all that drivin' around!" "I Want to Make You" is a gospel song with a touch of electric guitar. "Die That Way" is a jug band tune, and features a DiPaolo kazoo and harmonica duet. He's a quadruple threat, but it is his guitar playing that really holds the album together. Beautifully recorded, finger-style blues guitar, combined with his Beefheart-influenced (yet more melodious) vocals provides the common thread which runs through the whole album.

The songs may seem familiar from time to time, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This is another one of those albums by contemporary blues artists which seems almost like a journey through the history of blues styles. It even has a smidgen of Mexican dance music in the relaxed "Swellicious".

Yesirree, Bob! Extra Crispy is like a bucket of chicken! You fill up, and it tastes so good, that before you know it you're going back for more.

Booglerizers, voici un nom de groupe surprenant qui n’a rien de moins surprenant que la musique qu’il fait. Navigant entre folk, new-orleans, celtique, il est bien difficile de les ranger quelque part, et c’est tant mieux, laissons le CD dans la platine.
Le tuba, joué par Gerry YOSELEVICH, est l’instrument qui étonne le plus, peu familier des divers genres de blues. Car il s’agit pourtant bien de blues ici, et dès le premier morceau "Lumpy Man Blues" où l’harmonica de Ron BAUMAN est angoissant, et où la mandoline et la washboard font plutôt bon ménage.
"Fool To Love You" est un peu plus folk et reçoit la voix féminine de Edy TOUSAINT, "March For Blanche" révèle des accents irlandais, alors que "Tender Brown" nous ramène vers le Mississippi.
"Die That Way" reste un blues sur lequel apparaissent, le temps d’un solo, un kazoo et un jug joués par Richard Di PAOLO.
Une mention spéciale pour Brian MALOY qui, sur tous les titres où il prend part, est brillant à la mandoline et à la guitare.
A tout cela, rajoutez de temps en temps un saxo (très swinguant sur "The Funkymojerkulation") pour un petit plus jazzy, des cuillers, une clarinette sur "Pork Store" ou une flûte sur "Swellicious", et vous obtiendrez une sonorité particulière qui va sûrement vous "booglerizer".
Un disque acoustique et original a plus d’un titre puisque le chanteur et guitariste Richard Di PAOLO est l’auteur de tous les morceaux de cet album ce qui mérite d’être souligné.
Album à conseiller pour une musique pas comme les autres.

Booglerizers - here’s a group with a surprising name that’s no less surprising than the music it makes. Flying between folk, New Orleans, and Celtic influences, it is difficult to place them in one genre. And all the better. Let’s leave the CD on the turntable while we figure it out. The tuba, played by Gerry Yoselevich, is the most astonishing instrument, as it is not often heard in various kinds of blues music. For there are plenty of blues songs to be heard here, and as early as in the first piece "Lumpy Man Blues" where Ron Bauman’s harmonica is alarming, and where the mandolin and the washboard make for a good combination. "Fool To Love You" is a little more folk-influenced and showcases the voice of Edy Tousaint. "March For Blanche" reveals Irish accents, while "Tender Brown" brings us back towards the Mississippi. "Die That Way" remains in the blues genre and features a kazoo and a jug played by Richard DiPaolo. A special mention goes to Brian Maloy who, on all the titles where he is featured, is brilliant on the mandolin and the guitar. In addition to all that, add at times a sax (very swingy on "The Funkymojerkulation") for a bit more of a jazzy feel, spoons and a clarinet on "Pork Store," or a flute on "Swellicious", and you will obtain a special sonority that will surely make you "booglerize". This acoustic and original disc is entitled to much praise since the singer and guitarist Richard DiPaolo is the author of all of the pieces. That should be underlined. The album is recommended for it’s different style of music.

-Philippe Espeil

The Booglerizers "Extra Crispy". Self Production. Magnífico álbum de un grupo que conoce en profundidad todos los viejos resortes del blues más clásico y tradicional. Saben ‘tocar’ el corazón del oyente gracias a su sensibilidad y su innato y particular buen gusto y los arreglos de instrumentos muy en desuso hoy día en este estilo musical, como son la tuba, la flauta travesera o la mandolina. Como podreis comprobar, los Booglerizers están también influenciados por el folklore y la música celta, que combinan con habilidad y sentimiento. La particular manera de integrar los instrumentos antes mencionados, junto a la armónica, el banjolin, el washboard, el contrabajo y la guitarra tocada usando la técnica del fingerspicking, les confiere una singularidad y un sonido poco visto y oido en lo que al blues actual se refiere, apartándose de la ortodoxia que caracteriza al blues. Esto no singifica que no se vaya a disfrutar de esta música llena de frecura y buenos momentos. Bien por esta banda de New Jersey. BUENO.

The Booglerizers have done an splendid cd. This band deeply knows the most traditional old blues tricks and use them to 'touch' listeners heart. They also have a high sensibility, together with a extremely good taste to do original arrangements with unusual instruments in blues such as tuba, transverse flute or mandolin. As you will immediately realize, The Booglerizers have been greatly influenced by folk and celtic music that they skilfully mix. The particular way they have of integrating the above mentioned instruments with the harp, banjolin, washboard, double-bass and fingerspicking guitar playing technique, give them a singurality and a so different sound that make them move away from the actual blues orthodoxy. This does not mean that you will not enjoy this refreshing original band. Hurrah! for this New Jersey band. VERY GOOD.

-V.P.Z. La Hora del Blues RADIO PICA