Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has been an integral part of the swing/big band renaissance, helped in part by the band's breakthrough appearance in the movie SWINGERS. THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE, the sophomore major label offering by these sultans of swing, pays homage to the traditional art of swing, while at the same time updating it with a contemporary, hip sensibility.
"I Wanna Be Like You" is pure ear candy, with a Latin groove and percussion, cartoonish lyrics, and razor-sharp brass solos. The sleazy, Dick Tracy mood on "Who's That Creepin'?" keeps things interesting with a xylophone that adds a spooky touch. The most infectious aspect of this band is its tasteful use of brass, used to greatest effect on danceable tracks like "What's Next?" and "I'm Not Sleepin'." The standout track on THIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE, however, is "Big Time Operator." The track sounds like a mission statement for this new generation of swingers, as it romanticizes the zoot suit aesthetic. The '50s rock feel and scat vocals harken to a more innocent age. Vocalist Scotty Morris boasts that he's a "big time operatin', never, ever hesitatin' V.I.P." As he croons with just the right attitude and swagger, it's hard not to believe him.