Customer Reviews

Dirt Track Date

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3 star:		(1)
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How to describe/explain Southern Culture on the Skids to the here-to-fore uninitiated? Think of a large melting pot of sounds and imagery: Thrift shop chic that continues to redefine what bad taste is all about, an overalls-wearing front man/main songwriter playing cheap guitars through even cheaper amps (think of a sound sort of like a farm-bred hybrid of Creedence Clearwater Revival/Carl Perkins/Link Wray/a dash of early ZZ Top with elements of surf and southern-fried soul thrown in), a bouffant-wig-wearing female bassist with an underused voice of honey, an above average drummer, (and more recently a corpulent keyboardist that appears to out 'bad taste' the others, if that's possible) and a whole feedlot full of lyrics focusing on rural/trailer park/redneck subject matter with a decidedly low rent sense of humor--- In short, there's not much comeptetion out there mining the same material as these guys for their act.

The band was firmly entrenched in the indie Chapel Hill, North Carolina scene for the first half of the 90's. Their major label debut "Dirt Track Date" came out in 1996 and even created a bit of barely-above-ground sales momentum with its song "Camel Walk", which was used in the movie "Flirting With Disaster". The minor bit of general public attention netted the band a 'Twilight Zone' moment you'll probably never see again: an appearance as musical guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Since that time the band's scope has once again returned back to the 'minor leagues' of the indie scene. The good part of this is that there is no real pressure on them to dilute their act/material for mainstream consumption.

This album mixes re-recordings of songs on some previous S.C.O.T.S releases (noteably, a few from "Too Much Pork For Just One Fork") with some new stuff. The sound is clean and booming without taking away the rawness of the group, and leaves intact Rick Miller's reverb-drenched pawn shop guitar sound. The secquencing of the nine vocal and three instrumental songs is well-thought-out and gives the disc a good flow and groove. Don't think of these guys as some novelty act; this is one rockin' disc--even if you take away the southern shtick and numerous fried chicken references.

Mary Huff takes a smooth vocal turn on a cover of the Shirley Ellis hit "Nitty Gritty", but elsewhere it's all Rick Miller's sly drawl and tongue-in-cheek asides taking up the vocal cause. There are quite a few grins and even a few laughs in the lyrics, as usual. The instrumentals are cookin' as well--"Skullbucket" is the best Link Wray tribute song ever performed--it's structured sort of like a cross between Link's "Jack The Ripper" and "Rumble". The distorted, tremolo-drenched guitar on this one will burrow into your brain and demand that you hit repeat at least a dozen times in order to fully grasp the intense trashiness and full on groove of this amazing track.

Though S.C.O.T.S purists might argue for a different title (i.e. "For Lover's Only") as their best disc, the sheer momentum and sonic prowess of this one make it a wickedly strong contender for the pinnacle of southern culture.

Get yourself some corn liquor, a box of breasts and thighs and some snack cakes (Little Debbie, natch)--then put this [thing] on and just try to stop grinnin' and groovin'.

There needs to be more music like THIS at dance clubs and honky-tonks. Southern Culture on the Skids is some classic country-rockabilly with a modern edge. The music may sound like it could be duplicated on your back porch, but it is also very contemporary and fresh and witty and worth at least a head-nod or some toe-tap, evne if you're dead. I prefer a real country strut with my honey on my arm during this whole album, maybe a little Presley imitation thrown in now and then (and I'm talking old school King, when he could still do some hardcore pelvis shots and sway his knees about). I'm a fan of isolated tracks on other albums (40 Miles to Vegas is just impossible to keep your foot on the floor to), but this one keeps me jiggling the whole way through.

I first heard from this album when a local radio show would play "Camel Walk" almost to death, but still every time I'd crank up the volume and rock along. The song is astoundingly swinging and funny and a little bit scary--S & M involving oatmeal snack pies? To this day, if something catches me by surprise, I'll call out, "Little Debbie, Little Debbie! I'ma comin' on home, baby!" This song is a little more methodical than tracks like "Nitty Gritty" and "Greenback Fly," which just makes you want to be Johnny Depp in _Cry Baby_ all over again. And songs like "Galley Slave" and "Skullbucket" will bring you back to those great instrumentals like "Pipeline" and "Jack the Ripper."

It is hard to avoid making comparisons with the Reverend Horton Heat when talking about Southern Culture, mainly because they both run the same fine line between making fun of rockabilly while also deeply praising it. If psychobilly is the new moniker for modern rockabilly, then let this band sit on the throne with the Rev and hold sway over all that is good and true and makes you rock your bones just one more time.

I know many people may get the impression that SCOTS is just a southern thing, but let me tell you that this band is one of the most underrated live performers out there. It is just not possible to listen to one of their albums or participate in one their live shows and not come away from the experience with a bitter outlook towards the world.

Having grown up in and around Raleigh, NC, I have had many a chance to experience them in person before they had an album out. Let me say they destined for big things. There may be bigger bands out there, but there are none better. Their live shows never seem to translate to CD that well, but this CD comes as close to any of their others.

As for them being just a southern thing, well I wish they still were, but it seems that the rest of the country, and the world for that matter, are finding out what a great live event these guys are.

"Dirt Track Date" is the perfect CD to start off with, if this your first SCOTS album. But, the ideal introduction to this wonderful band is to see them live and you will be scanning to events pages of your newspaper waiting for them to return. In the meantime you will probably buy the rest of their CD's, they are that good, no GREAT!

Cheesy Italian-western guitar twang ... "Baby? Will you eat that there snack cracker in your ... special outfit for me? Please?"

Thus started my introduction to Southern Culture On The Skids, a demented trio out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina better known to their fans as SCOTS. At heart, these guys (and girl) are rockabilly, but with an irresistable Ventures-like beat that will have you jamming along even as you're laughing at the goofy white-trash-by-way-of-Kerouac lyrics. "Camel Walk," SCOTS' tribute to Southern snack food, is undoubtedly their best known song, but "Dirt Track Date" as a whole is complete inspired lunacy from start to finish. If you're not grinning and craving Little Debbie snack cakes and fried chicken by the time you've finished listening to this, you may want to check your pulse. And if you can see SCOTS live, do so--you won't be sorry!

I love S.C.O.T.S and this is their best CD. The standouts are Voodoo Cadillac, Sould City, Firefly, Fried Chicken and Gasoline, Dirt Track Date, Camel Walk, Whole Lotta Things, Green Back Fly, 8-Piece Box...ah heck, every track is great! This CD will put a smile on your face!

Now, this album simply grooves, it slinks and it winks. Nary a loser on the disc. One of those albums I can play over and over and over. The best album by this band. Keep it up fellas-and Mary- but please leave my heart alone girl! Shake it don't break it!

This is a great album for a party. Especially if you serve fried chicken and Little Debbie snacks. The only thing better than rockin out to this album is seeing the band live.

My wife and I spent our first weekend together rocking out to this CD and its remained a favorite ever since. Its one of those rare CDs with no weak moments. All of the tracks are instant classics. If you ever get a chance to see them in concert bring your appetite, you might end up with a chicken dinnner!

Super fun cd love this group! will buy more from them. Amazon is a great place to buy. Get great deals on everything!

This is my fav scots album !!! Great tunes & style. They rock the house live !!!