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This band mixes vigorous rock-a-billy with swing, slam, and retro, and mixes it with an undertone of country. To put it simply, its kind of hard to explain; maybe roadhouse swing. From Texas, The RHH is headed by Jim "Rev Horton" Heath on guitar, Jimbo on bass, and Scott Churilla on drums. A solid album, "Spend A Night In The Box" is one of my favorites from this trio. In fact, there are so many keepers on this record I can’t write about them all and still stay in my five hundred-word limit. The title song is an amusing love song, of sorts, that pokes fun at relationships, women, and the men that love them both. Another noteworthy component of this album is its great sound. This first track also has some great Cool Hand Luke references that only add to its genuine sense of play. Produced by Butt Hole Surfers’ Paul Leary, all these tunes maintain a clear and steady, retro rock sound that never veers off course. Big D Boogie Woogie is a fast paced twister of a song, evoking images of custom hot rods running fast on a straight dessert road. This one has some great big mouth bass playing and exceptional guitar playing. It’s also almost impossible not to at least tap your foot to this song. Sleeper Couch Driver is a trucker tune with unique twists on some familiar country licks. Sue Jack Daniels is a frenzied, slam number blending punk and rock-a-billy together in the singular Reverend Horton Heat tradition. This band never stops amazing me with their style of blending so many styles and still keeping their sound their own. Hand It To Me is an updated country song, which could easily compared to Carl Perkins or Eddie Cochran, save for its modernized sound. My favorite song on this recording, King, is a tribute to lounge chair gods around the world. Entertaining lyrics and great music make this an unmatched piece of work. The Millionaire is a swinging, twanging instrumental that, just like the rest of the CD, gets you up and dancing. By the way, if this album doesn’t get you moving, then everyone will be glad, ‘cause chances are you just can’t dance. The songs I’ve talked about here only hit on a few of the swinging tunes on this album. If you’re new to The Reverend Horton Heat you also might want to check out "It's Martini Time" and "Lucky 7," two more of my favorites. Coincidentally, The Reverend Horton Heat can be seen live at the Bridge Street Music Hall next month (Thursday, May 8th). They should sound spectacular in this venue, check them out if you are able. This trio is definitely worth any road trip. |
Regressive Music Review