Ifdakar - Lion's Share:
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Appleton, Wisconsin's Ifdakar teams up with Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee and Willie Waldman to bring you Lion's Share, and we have it here first.
Our WIJAM Exclusive starts right now. |
Ifdakar - Lion's Share: The WIJAM Review
by Ryan Van Remmen
Leaders of the Wisconsin Jam scene, Ifdakar, continue their rise as they prepare to release their third studio album, Lion’s Share. The latest effort from the Fox Valley five-piece features Curt Biese on guitar & synths, Jon Schinke on guitar & vocals, Zach Chisholm on bass, Frank Deringer on drums & vocals, and keyboardist & vocalist Michael Romenesko. Romenesko's relatively recent addition to the group has added a final element that has taken their sound to the next level. Lion’s Share is certainly a testament to that, but this album goes even further, thanks to the expertise of its high profile producers.
by Ryan Van Remmen
Leaders of the Wisconsin Jam scene, Ifdakar, continue their rise as they prepare to release their third studio album, Lion’s Share. The latest effort from the Fox Valley five-piece features Curt Biese on guitar & synths, Jon Schinke on guitar & vocals, Zach Chisholm on bass, Frank Deringer on drums & vocals, and keyboardist & vocalist Michael Romenesko. Romenesko's relatively recent addition to the group has added a final element that has taken their sound to the next level. Lion’s Share is certainly a testament to that, but this album goes even further, thanks to the expertise of its high profile producers.
Recorded at The Boondock Vortex, the recording studio of Umphrey’s Mcgee’s master of the strings, Jake Cinninger, with lead engineer, Jim Leep, and trumpeter extraordinaire, Willie Waldman (an artist who has worked with a wide array of musicians from Perry Farrell to Tupak Shakur), this album has it all, including guest appearances by both Cinninger and Waldman on almost every track. The record may only have seven tracks, but it does not disappoint. And in true jam-tronic fashion, it still comes out to over an hour of sonic delight. With Lion's Share, Ifdakar has managed to span multiple genres and eras to give this album a much broader feel than one would expect. |
The album opens with "The Ghouls" featuring Willie Waldman, with an almost anthemic feel-good rock track, followed by "Build Me Up", the only track that does not feature either Willie or Jake. Don’t let that fool you, though. "Build Me Up" is a funk rock track with infectious lyrics and wicked keyboard licks that quickly made its way to my top three favorite songs on this album.
Cinninger’s prowess is on full display in "Idle Hands", and swirls around nicely with Romenesko’s keys. The album takes a slightly darker turn at its halfway point with "The Color Grey", which combines Chisolm’s deep bass lines with rapid guitar licks, and subtle layers of Biese’s synthesizer. Passing the midpoint of the album, "Soft Glow" is rife with catchy lyrics, a funked out clavinet, flowing synthesizers, shredding guitars, and backup vocals that make for a top shelf rock track.
With just 2 tracks left, things get a little weird. In a good way, that is, with "Heroin Baby". With a name like that, what else would one expect? This tune starts out as a synth heavy instrumental that almost sounds like two songs in one, as it eventually switches gears, shifting into elements of funk and world beat. |
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After 6 rocking songs the album mellows out with the final track, "Rider on the Angry Sea" which again includes impressive lyrics masterfully sung by Schinke, more of Waldman’s ethereal brass, and a chill groove that shifts to an upbeat jam-band style finale.
The third time really is the charm with Lion’s Share. This album has all of the elements that rock fans desire; well written songs performed masterfully by the band and its guest performers, a layout that flows smoothly from one song to the next, and a uniqueness that comes about when you combine seasoned performers with top notch producers in an inspirational studio. Give it a listen and be sure to catch Ifdakar live the next chance you get.