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DJ Pick of the Week: Bill DeVille - Hurray For The Riff Raff, 'Rican Beach'

Hurray For The Riff Raff is Alynda Lee Segarra, but in many ways it's much more than that: it's a young woman leaving her indelible stamp on the American folk tradition.
Hurray For The Riff Raff is Alynda Lee Segarra, but in many ways it's much more than that: it's a young woman leaving her indelible stamp on the American folk tradition.Sarah Danzinger

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by Bill DeVille

January 02, 2017

I was a fan of the New Orleans band Hurray for the Riff Raff's last album, Small Town Heroes. On that 2014 release, they had kind of a sweet and sunny, front-porch folk sound.

It appears Alynda Lee Segarra and band have added a few new ingredients to the gumbo on their forthcoming The Navigator (due March 10, 2017). The lead single from the album is called "Rican Beach," and it sounds nothing like anything the band have recorded before. The song features an almost afro-beat groove, which is totally unexpected and sounds totally awesome!

Segarra has the state of the world on her mind. She dedicated the song to the Standing Rock protestors and to the people of Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, where coal ash has been contaminating the drinking water. Segarra is of Puerto Rican descent.

On "Rican Beach," Segarra sings, "Now all the politicians they just squawk their mouths / they said they'd build a wall to keep them out." This song may be an early taste of what may be in store musically over the next four years. Watch the video below to take in the song, "Rican Beach."

Resources

Hurray For The Riff Raff - official site