Reviews
Asylum Street Spankers (2002)
Spanker Madness
Tongue-in-cheek, but "fine amalgamation of oldtime blues, country and jazz", which is mainly about smoking marijuana
Blacks (2002)
Just Like Home
Dark second and final album on the Bloodshot label from recently broken up Chicago country punk trio, the Blacks
Bobby Bare Jr (2003)
Young Criminals Starvation League
Debut solo album from frontman of alt.rock outfit, Bare Jr, and son of famous country singer Bobby Bare, who proves to be an "unexpected wild card talent" in his own right
Graham Parker (2007)
Don't Tell Columbus
Fiery new album from now American-based British singer-songwriter Graham Parker, who over 30 years on from his advent just before punk, shows that he has lost none of his anger, humour or insight
Jon Langford And His Sadies (2003)
Mayors Of The Moon
"Feisty" new first collaboration between Bloodshot label mates, the Mekons and the Wacos' Jon Langford and eclectic Toronto country outfit, the Sadies
Old 97's (2002)
Early Tracks
"Barnstorming hybrid of honky tonk and early rockabilly rhythms shot through with a smidgen of punk attitude" on the Bloodshot label from under-rated Dallas-based group
Rex Hobart And The Misery Boys (2002)
Your Favorite Fool
"Vivid reminder of how good country music, the way it's supposed to be played, can be" on third album from Kansas City's Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys
Sadies (2003)
Precious Moments
Re-release of the "ridiculously entertaining as they are talented" Sadies breakneck and eclectic debut album, which includes elements of "surf, garage rock, Ennio Morricone, rockabilly and murder balladry"
Sons Of The Pioneers (2001)
Symphonies Of The Sage
A slighty twee but nevertheless enjoyable collection of hits and misses from Chicago's 'Son's of the pioneers'. These are predominately cowboy sing a longs recorded in the 1940's, essentially for radi
Sundowners (2003)
Chicago Country Legends
Timely historical retrospective for relocated Southerners and long-serving country and western pioneers the Sundowners, whose fans included Fats Domino, Jon Entwhistle and Robert Duvall
Trailer Bride (2001)
High Seas
What has gotten into me? A change in the weather and all at once I'm into swampy country blues. From North Carolina or thereabouts, it's Trailer Bride with their third album 'High Seas'. It came wit
Various (2002)
Bottle Let Me Down
Excellent and consistently rewarding compilation on the Bloodshot label of songs written specifically "or the amusement of children...and arrested adolescents everywhere"
Waco Brothers (2002)
New Deal
Sixth album of country-punk from Chicago-based British ex-pats, the Waco Brothers, which makes "a venerable effort to breath new life into the old C&W blue print"
Wayne Hancock (2003)
Swing Time
Impressive, irrestible old-style country from Bloodshot recording artist Wayne Hancock, recorded live over two nights earlier this year at Austin's legendary Continental Club
Related
Features
Waco Brothers
Profile
The Waco Brothers are a "cowboy" supergroup, featuring members of the Mekons, Wreck, KMFDM and Jesus Jones. Andrew Carver profiles the band's five album Bloodshot label career