"We saw new dances like `The Freeze' and `The Achy Breaky' spreading like an epidemic in country dance halls," the members of Brave Combo write in the liner notes to their new album, Group Dance Epidemic. "Then terpsichorean plague struck--`The Macarena.' No one was spared, not even the vice president of the United States." Does Brave Combo, the polka-rock band from Texas, object to these developments? No, they love it. They are fervent evangelists for the democratizing and uplifting values of group dances, no matter how corny (plus it gives them more work). Thus the album features a dozen songs that have been dance-floor-tested for group participation, and the CD booklet comes with dance instructions for each.
"The Freeze," "The Achy Breaky," and "The Macarena" are not included, but Van McCoy's disco classic, "The Hustle," is. Most of the others belong to an earlier age when dancers bent their knees and backs to do the "Limbo Rock," flapped their elbows to the "Chicken Dance," shuffled their soles to the "Mexican Hat Dance," and waved their hands over their heads for "The Hokey Pokey." This is not the sort of album you'll want to sit around and listen to, but if you're having friends over to the house and you're afraid they're going to talk about the federal budget, you might want to put this on.
Because Brave Combo is a bohemian band from Austin, these songs have two layers. At the forefront of the mix, the tune and beat are strong and clear, but in the background, secondary beats and jazzy embellishments are complicating things. The band's approach is reflected in their notes for "The Bunny Hop:" "Cute dance for children or modern fertility rite? That's the same thing, isn't it? This version features an Aboriginal dronepipe (the didgeridoo) and quotations from Peter Cottontail and Duke Ellington's `Cottontail.'" --Geoffrey Himes
Group Dance Epidemic,Brave Combo,Rounder / Pgd,Alternative Pop/Rock,Polka,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,World Music,Worldbeat
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Group Dance Epidemic
Brave Combo Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
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General
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Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
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Polkas
| Ballets & Dances
| Classical
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General
| International
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Polka
| Eastern Europe
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Pop Rock
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Rounder Records
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ASIN: B0000003LD Release Date: 1997-06-10 |
Tracks:
- The Hokey Pokey (Rock Style)
- Mexican Hat Dance
- Never On Sunday
- Limbo Rock/Hand Jive
- The Hustle
- The Chicken Dance
- Mana Vu
- The Jeffrey
- Peanut Vendor
- Jeopardy (Schottische)
- The Hokey Pokey (Go-Go Style)
- The Bunny Hop
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"We saw new dances like `The Freeze' and `The Achy Breaky' spreading like an epidemic in country dance halls," the members of Brave Combo write in the liner notes to their new album, Group Dance Epidemic. "Then terpsichorean plague struck--`The Macarena.' No one was spared, not even the vice president of the United States." Does Brave Combo, the polka-rock band from Texas, object to these developments? No, they love it. They are fervent evangelists for the democratizing and uplifting values of group dances, no matter how corny (plus it gives them more work). Thus the album features a dozen songs that have been dance-floor-tested for group participation, and the CD booklet comes with dance instructions for each."The Freeze," "The Achy Breaky," and "The Macarena" are not included, but Van McCoy's disco classic, "The Hustle," is. Most of the others belong to an earlier age when dancers bent their knees and backs to do the "Limbo Rock," flapped their elbows to the "Chicken Dance," shuffled their soles to the "Mexican Hat Dance," and waved their hands over their heads for "The Hokey Pokey." This is not the sort of album you'll want to sit around and listen to, but if you're having friends over to the house and you're afraid they're going to talk about the federal budget, you might want to put this on.
Because Brave Combo is a bohemian band from Austin, these songs have two layers. At the forefront of the mix, the tune and beat are strong and clear, but in the background, secondary beats and jazzy embellishments are complicating things. The band's approach is reflected in their notes for "The Bunny Hop:" "Cute dance for children or modern fertility rite? That's the same thing, isn't it? This version features an Aboriginal dronepipe (the didgeridoo) and quotations from Peter Cottontail and Duke Ellington's `Cottontail.'" --Geoffrey Himes
Customer Reviews:
Coordinate your steps and clap! Avoid the individuality trap!.......2005-08-10
The store owner said "Yep. Thats Brave Combo!"
I immediately said "I'd be stupid not to buy this!"
What I got was an album full of classic group dance songs. From the Hokey Pokey to the Chicken Dance to the Hustle. All done in a wonderfully tounge-in-cheek fashion. Its alot of fun!
Group Dance Epidemic.......2005-07-23
Almost perfect.......2003-10-25
We've been generally happy with one small nit. In their search for artistic differentiation the band has thrown in quite a few twists that, while they sound interesting, make it a bit hard to dance to. That's not cool for an album titled "Group Dance Epidemic."
Still, it's a great kid's album and highly recommended.
Lunatic Fun.......2003-06-19
Unadulterated Fun........2001-11-11
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