"A noteworthy 107 years separate Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,” yet both enduring hits sound right at home together on the Southside Aces’ new party record, The Big Beat. As do callbacks to Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Jelly Roll Morton, Bobby Darin, Duke Ellington, Fats Domino, and homegrown hero Butch Thompson. The first Aces album to appear on that hot new format the kids are collecting – yessir, vinyl! – The Big Beat delivers far more vocals, and a few more familiar warhorses, than old fans might expect. Just remember, should you get carried away while listening, partying like it’s 1899, don’t wind up on a long white table at the “St. James Infirmary” – no! no! no! Just grab your sweet potato and dance your way down to “Rehab” instead."

 

                                      Tom Surowicz, longtime Twin Cities music journalist and barfly