BASTARD LIFE OR CLARITY - By Rod Lockwood

Toledo Blade, October 15, 2001

Oscar winner Russell Crowe laps the field of actors masquerading as musicians, succeeding where Bruce Willis, Eddie Murphy, Jeff Bridges, and a host of other thespians have failed. As lead singer of the improbably named Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts (TOFOG to its fans), Crowe proves himself an able frontman with a voice that owes a serious debt to David Bowie.

Earnest, committed, and at times a bit histrionic, Crowe carries his weight in a fine Australian band. The six-member group, with which Crowe has sung for years, uses a conventional lineup of guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards augmented with tasty trumpet fills.

As one of the chief lyricists, Crowe's talents are front and center throughout the effort, which is a solid rock record in the vein of the Wallflowers or Counting Crows. Standout tracks include "Memorial Day," a plaintive paean to war veterans with a haunting melody. "Sail Those Same Oceans" uses a swirling organ and hard-strummed acoustic guitars to drive its tale of lovers separated by their own restlessness.

For reasons that probably have more to do with ego than the Muse, actors have ventured down this path before. The difference with Crowe is that he seems to know where he's going and he has a good band to help him get there.