Slobberbone Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today CD

"We are a rock band, pure and simple," says gravelly-voiced lead singer Brent Best, but as this third release from the Texas-based outfit makes clear it isn't so simple after all. The group have staked out a rather original space somewhere between country and punk rock, and they've filled it with quirky characters, memorable stories, and high-octane music that refuses to be pinned down and categorized. The instrumentation ranges from fiddle and mandolin to accordion and tuba; the sound is sometimes folk-country delicate, sometimes frenzied hard rock, though it leans more to the latter than the former. As for the lyrics, Slobberbone's ideas occasionally run out before a track ends, but they're generally dark and/or funny, and more than a little twisted. This release finds them expanding their horizons from drunks and losers, which is not to say they've abandoned those subjects. There are songs here about everything from obsessive love ("Josephine") to the end of the world ("Meltdown") to a Bible-toting traveling salesman ("Trust Jesus"). ~ Jeff Burger

3rd Rel;Country/Punk/Rock

Recorded at Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee.

Personnel: Brent Best (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, mandolin, harmonica, organ); Patterson Hood (vocals); Jess Barr (guitar, banjo); Eric Lewis (lap steel guitar, mandolin, fiddle); Paul Ebersold (baritone guitar, mandolin); Brian Lane (mandolin, organ, background vocals); Charlie Wood (accordion, toy piano); Kirk Smothers (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Scott Thompson (trumpet); Sean Murphy (tuba); Jim Dickinson (piano); Tony Harper (drums, percussion).

Recording information: Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN.

Photographers: Kyle Hoskinson; Brent Best.

Slobberbone: Brent Best (vocals, acoustic, electric & baritone guitars, mandolin, harmonica, organ); Jess Barr (guitar, banjo); Brian Lane (mandolin, organ, bass, background vocals); Tom Harper (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Paul Ebersol (baritone guitar, mandolin, Hammond B-3 organ); Eric Lewis (lap & pedal steel guitars, mandolin, fiddle); Charlie Woods (accordion, toy piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Kirk Smothers (tenor & baritone saxophones); Scott Thompson (trumpet); Sean Murphy (tuba); Jim Dickinson (piano); Patterson Hood (background vocals).

Q (9/00, p.108) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...[They] don't get all shy about the simple therapeutic joys of rocking out, happily acknowledging their debt to Jason & The Scorchers in particular....the broken down balladry of 'Lumberlungs', especially, being a small dark gem..."
Uncut (10/00, p.90) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Twelve alcohol-tinged songs infused with remorse, regret, humour and the tightest damn guitar section this side of Crazy Horse..."
No Depression (9-10/00, p.115) - "...Authentic roadhouse rawk....recommended to anyone in search of musical spirit..."