Posted on May 12, 2010 by DJ Chas

Editor: We have even more vinyl goodness for you on 45 from new correspondent, DJ Chas…

Love Me Good b/w If It Ain’t True by Ray Lugo’s L.E.S. EXPRESS featuring Roxie Ray

Often times I get accused of having an aversion to guitars.  It could not be further from the truth. Hey, some of my best friends play guitars, okay?  I love guitars. However, it’s not the big solos that do it for me, but rather guitars that drive the rhythm.  Give me some chugging 70’s guitar or some serious wah-wah funk and my headphones are happy. If you throw a soulful vocalist and some killer drum work into the mix and well, you’ll be hard pressed to disappoint me.  You might say I’m a sucker for something so seemingly formulaic.  Guilty as charged.

Today I’m listening to the new Ray Lugo’s L.E.S  EXPRESS 45.  It was not Ray Lugo that made me grab this (I was actually unfamiliar with him) but rather the presence of Roxie Ray that piqued my curiosity.  I liked the stuff she did with DOJO CUTS a great deal and thought I’d give this a spin.  Incidentally, she is not the Roxie Ray some of you smut fans may know from x-rated films. Anyway, onto the music.

Side A: Love Me Good

Ok, the intro sold me right away.  This is the guitar work I’m talking about!  Love it!  I’m tapping my toes, nodding my head, shaking my shoulders, the whole nine.  If I have a gripe about this it’s that Roxie’s vocal is a bit buried in the mix.  I will concede that the vocal is secondary to what’s going on here, but hearing Roxie sing “Love Me Good, yo, You gotta love me right,” is something I want to hear.  Heck, her vocal presence drew me to this in the first place.

Side B: If It Ain’t True

Another winner here,  this time it’s the drums that do it for me.  Very percussive and very funky.  I eagerly await the full album release from Mr. Lugo and hope I get more of the same.

– DJ Chas at The UnCool

The UnLive | 45 Review: Ray Lugo's Love Me Good b/w If It Ain't True10.0104