Rusty Metoyer has been on an upward trajectory in zydeco for some time, but when a senior statesman like Chubby Carrier dubs him the “hot new zydeco band,” do take note. Praise from a colleague and fellow competitor doesn’t come lightly.
Metoyer’s third album, Unlike Any Other, also supports Carrier’s endorsement. It’s a project that has been germinating since 2018, delayed by COVID and destructive hurricanes. During that time, Metoyer wrote 15 originals, including two versions of “Riverbank,” 2019s steamy single, and the Caribbean remix featuring rapping Jamaican Swaggi-J.
Jeremy Fruge’s “Blame it on the Bud Light” debuts here as the only cover, with its humorous head-banging hangover fodder contributing to the album’s spirit of jocularity. Similarly, so does “Mange pas mon lapin” (“Don’t Eat My Rabbit”) and “Keep It On the DL.” Both tunes shift gears lyrically multiple times with tight interactive jamming and funky breakdowns.
Shifting into other songs and lyrics has become a Metoyer trademark and is preferable over repeating the same lines incessantly. “What Will I Eat Tonight” briefly borrows a chorus from Billy Joel’s “For The Longest Time.” “Hurricane Proof” closes with Metoyer singing over a simulated megaphone, “I see pride/ I see power/ You call that a storm/ We call it a rain shower” and deservedly should be an anthem of Lake Charles’ resiliency.
Besides “Lapin,” other songs also offer cultural glimpses. “Going to Coutee” references a family grocery store in Eunice that sells sauce packs, pre-cooked packages of uncooked, seasoned fresh meat used in making sauce picante. “Headscarf” expresses a guy’s preference to see his lady in a “tignon,” French for a type of headscarf. According to Wikipedia: “the tignon is experiencing a revival in Louisiana.”
Interestingly, Metoyer considers “Riverbank” and “Thinking and Drinking” as lyrically being contemporary country music-inspired but done with an R&B-soul groove topped with a zydeco accordion. “I’d Go Insane” was destined to follow the same pattern but took on more of a zydeco flavor during recording. Metoyer sees similarities between zydeco and contemporary country, such as how both crowds ride horses, wear western garb, and are family-oriented.
If you want sexy songs, Metoyer has ’em too. “Make You Feel Like a Woman” is masterfully written in describing its heated throes of passion and release of emotion. With the colorful cover shot depicting both his musician and sportsman side that’s unusual for any album—let alone zydeco—Metoyer wasn’t kidding when he said he is unlike any other. The proof is right here.
