Rufus Maneuvers, One Clear Moment (B-Group Music 2001) - Rufus Maneuvers is an ambitious five-piece combo from Buffalo, New York. With an up-tempo bar rock sound, and dual vocalists who bring to mind the fondly-remembered Subdudes, Rufus Maneuvers wants you to do the bar boogie with them. Rufus Maneuvers are vocalist/rhythm guitarist Scott Celani, vocalist Jim Culver, lead guitar Sean Lewis, bass player Karin Koszuta, and drummer Chris Edwards. Rufus Maneuvers has its heart in being a jam band, as reflected on songs like "Hopeless Romantic." Yet the Peter Holsapple-influenced guitar jams come through on tracks like "Somewhere." One Clear Moment was produced by Brent Budrug of Toronto's B-Group Music. Budrug favors a textured studio sound, with plenty of guitar feedback. My favorite track is "Ice Man," which opens with a Collective Soul-styled crunchy guitar, and has a bouncy hook (I also dig the refrain, "I want to be an ice man /Just a nice man/Not an asshole"). The band maintains a lighter side, having toured this year on the "Catskill Cabin Fever Caravan" through (not surprisingly) the Catskill Mountains. Says Rufus Maneuvers, "Rock and roll your winter blues away!" I always look for a hit groove, and One Clear Moment has it on "Ice Man." For more information, contact: Rufus Maneuvers P.O. Box 85 Kenmore, New York 14217 Phone: 877/997-8387 E-mail: music@rufusmaneuvers.com www.rufusmaneuvers.com - Randy Krbechek © 2001 Check CD Shakedown for Weekly Reviews of Music CDs and New Albums