Pay Attention by GroundSound, 2009

Genre: Pop, Rock, Funk, Jam

Compare To: The Meters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Umphrey’s McGee

Influences: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin

Bio: GroundSound is the birth child of brothers nEko Soto on bass and Ray Soto on guitar and powered by the fury of drummer Jon Carlucci. GroundSound is a rock/funk power trio with a soaring, stellar live show, mixing funky jams with well crafted and catchy original songs that never fail to please the crowd.

GroundSound is shakin’ up NYC. The birth child of brothers nEko Soto on funk bass and Ray Soto on blues guitar and powered by the fury of drummer Jon Carlucci, GroundSound is a rock/funk power trio with a soaring, stellar live show. Mixing funky jams with well crafted and catchy original songs that never fail to please the crowd, GroundSound is carving its niche in the New York City music scene.

Paying their dues in NYC clubs like The Bitter End, Don Hill’s, Parkside Lounge, Sullivan Hall, Rehab, Crash Mansion and gaining experience playing at The Apollo Theatre, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Tarrytown Music Hall, Pleasantville Music Festival, Berklee College of Music, Plattsburgh University, Binghamton University, University of Virginia, Westchester Community College and SUNY Oswego Study Abroad London UK, these boys have what it takes to get to the top.

And what a funky ride it will be. nEko Soto on the bass is tremendous. nEko puts the bass in ya face reminiscent of Flea. One half of the Soto and Soto songwriting team, nEko has a lot to say and you’d better listen.

Ray Soto on guitar is a bluesman on the axe and a gifted songwriter. Introspective words mixed with soulful, ferocious solos are Ray’s way of paying homage to the greats: a little bit of Jimi and Frusciante mixed with a lot of Lennon.

Jon Carlucci, a Berklee College of Music alumnus, rounds out the group on drums with his powered fury that rocks hard and funky.

PAY ATTENTION, GroundSound’s debut album, is mixed and mastered by 3-time Grammy winner Phil Magnotti and co-produced by Buck Brundage and SotoS Music Productions. 14 original tracks, it is complete and far ranging: title track Pay Attention is one funky jam, Zombie has an infectious chorus, Get Better is heavy and hard hitting, Plato shows the band’s sweet side and No They Can’t rocks.

GroundSound shows remind us of 60s happenings crossed with the funk groove of today. The debut CD, PAY ATTENTION proves there is substance, quality and depth to GroundSound’s songwriting and music. Definitely making moves and shakin’ things up, this band of brothers is here to stay.

My Review: Its always nice to see a fusion that works! nEko’s funky base playing blends perfectly with brother Ray’s “bluesy” guitar playing. These are original compositions, but parts of these song bear a strong resemblance to songs of the past, such as The Lake Song having a late 50s early 60s sound and the intro to Get Better which definitely has a late 70s-80ish sound.

Out of the four tracks I have to present here, I think Zombie is my favorite. I think it provides the best blend of funk and blues and sounds the most original. Second I’d have to pick Pay Attention even though it isn’t as blusey sounding. Don’t get me wrong, now, Get Better provides some nice guitar work for Ray and The Lake Song is a trip back in time, for someone who has listened to music since the late 50s they just seem a little to “familiar”, that’s all. I have the full album and out of the 13 tracks, these are the only 2 that have this problem.

The major theme of the album is the over use of prescription drugs and how there seems to be a drug for every ailment, whether real or imagined’ so this album does carry an important social message.

Overall I found Pay Attention a very appealing album for anyone who likes a little funk with their blues or is it a little blues with their funk? Actually, its a lot of blues with a lot of funk! These four tracks merely scratch the surface as most of the tracks are a lot funkier and bluesier sounding. I rate it 9 out of 10 and a “thumbs up”, how about you?

Pay Attention by GroundSound is available for 99 cents per track in our side bar carousel or in our music store!