
MUSIC
Sundown
$7.42
About this product:
Man, can these guys write music. The two brothers from the DILS, one of L.A.'s original punk bands got together with A. Escovedo from that very musical family if I'm not mistaken. This first album is head and shoulders better than their second album much in the same way that TELEVISION's Marquee Moon debut album is that much better than their second one.
And what a gem this is. I kept trying to see if there was some reissue version of this album with some sorta extra trax, either live or from some 7". No luck. Just 9 songs like the vinyl lp. The closest we get is two separate listings of the apparently same album on amazon.com which, well, didn't satisfy my music lust for obtaining more of this band's awesome songs. I have the album but I couldn't resist getting this CD.
I said for years that this album is too punk for country fans and too country for punk fans. After re-listening to it upon getting the CD (ok, ok, I'm busted, I rarely listen to my lps, least I finally bought a turn table after years of the vinyl just sitting around) I realized this isn't really punk. The only way it's punk is that the two brothers were formerly in a punk band. But it surely isn't straight country. I'm not sure how I can put my finger on it. All I know is, there's only one country act I like (of course, JOHNNY CASH) but if there were more bands that sounded like this I'd be all into them too.
The older I get the more it's clear that strong songwriting is a big deal, along with a fine voice. This band has it in spades. Really sing along songs. I just can't help myself. In fact, I'd put this album right in there with my other two most favorite albums where you basically can't help but sing along with almost every song: the MISFITS Walk Among Us and COCKNEY REJECTS Greatest Hits Vol. 1. I love music that sounds real American and RANK AND FILE totally captures that essense here. When John Doe and Excene do the KNITTERS getting their rootsy/country thang goin' it doesn't take me anywhere. This, this is perfection. Robust, stompin' really, and beautiful harmonies. Before I forget I gotta turn my dad onto this. He's 80. He loves good music but grew up with big band but turns out he loves NEIL YOUNG (ok, acoustic) and is real impressed with the honest presentation of BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
chrisbct@hotmail.com