Inevitably, just having “Kajuns” plugged in the title will give the impression that there’s a new bunch of Chanky Chankers coming out of the pirogue. Actually Cool Coyotoe is as far from anything Cajun you can get except for the cover shot of John Wayne Pastor, Beth Patterson, Stephanie Claire and Walter Jr., all of whom happen to be Cajuns. If that seems a little tricky, that’s the point. The Cool ones are the brainchild of pack leader Pastor who recorded these tunes for various projects, which explains their incongruous eclecticism. Though it’s not intended as a commercial effort beholding any sense of continuity, Y2Kajuns is best appreciated if there are no expectations other than quality musicians playing Pastor’s out-of-kilter originals. In addition to the aforementioned Patterson—whose masterful bouzouki playing is prominent throughout—other notables include Joe Krown and guitarists Marc Stone and Brint Anderson.
Led by Krown’s righteous, rolling ivories, the overall shuffling boogie of “Midnight” initially renders initially Y2Kajuns a “safe,” no surprises affair. Yet, that seeming normalcy disintegrates soon thereafter with “Changes,” an English folk tune meeting a slice of opera with Mario Taravella’s hearty singing as well as “Dixie Mafia,” a darkish true tale of a St. Landry Parish Mafia boss. “49” is not unlike any early ’70s bong-bombing rocker with Walter Jr’s searing guitar work while lyrically “Special Way” could be a corny Celtic love song lifted from a B-movie. The track following “Special Way” may seem a tad more conventional except it’s titled “Vampire Serenade” and these blood suckers are singing about, ya guessed it, vampires. “Space Race” opens with a psycho spoken word diatribe straight out of a beat coffeehouse before segueing into a Mr. Roberts-like arrangement. Undoubtedly the best of the lot is “So Many Times” where Pastor pleadingly sings, “I don’t drive a car, I hope that doesn’t bother you,” to which Patterson responds “It doesn’t bother me,” casting a mystical effect. If anything, some tracks (“Blinded By Beauty,” “Color My Heart”) need to be weirder to fit in. After all, what’s weird these days anyway?
