Gourds Shinebox CD

The Gourds: Kevin Russell (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Max Johnston (vocals, slide guitar, banjo, fiddle); Claude Bernard (vocals, guitar, accordion, Hammond B-3 organ); Jimmy Smith (vocals, guitar, acoustic & electric basses, percussion); Keith Langford (vocals, drums, maracas, percussion).
The Gourds: Kevin Russell (guitar); Claude Bernard (accordion); Jimmy Smith (acoustic bass); Keith Langford (drums); Max Johnston.
Personnel: Max Johnston (vocals, guitar, banjo, fiddle); Kevin Russell (vocals, guitar, mandolin); Keith Langford (vocals, maracas).
Recording information: Arlyn Studios, Austin, TX (05/05/1998); Darwin Smith's Studio, Austin, TX (05/05/1998); Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (05/05/1998).
Arrangers: Max Johnston; Kevin Russell .
On this re-sequenced and expanded version of 1998's Gogitchyershinebox EP, the highlight remains the band's ramshackle acoustic rendition of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice." But new covers of Nils Lofgren's "Everybody's Missing the Sun" and Billy Joe Shaver's "Omaha" are equally as inspired. Bang-up arrangements of the traditional numbers "Dooley" and "Jones Oh Jones" are other standout tunes missing from the original release. Whether this album-length re-release was intended as a stopgap or as a reward to fans who missed out on the EP back when it was still in print, the significant new song additions make Shinebox worth its purchase price. ~ Brian Beatty

Award Winner

Q (1/02, p.117) - 3 out of 5 stars - "...blending plaintive folk country with good-time rocking ans striking imagery....closer to their rollicking live act than much of ther studio output..."
Uncut (11/01, p.122) - 3 stars out of 5 - "The Gourds are the nearest cultural inheritors of The Band's casual interplay of traditional American elements..."
Mojo (Publisher) (10/01, p.110) - "...Features excellent Snoop Dogg and Bowie covers, trads with fine arrangements, '98 radio performances and a couple of new tracks."