Customer Reviews

Dixie

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think this album is Avail's best album, with Over The James being a close second. The first Avail albums I had were Front Porch Stories and One Wrench. I liked Avail from the start but I would almost never listen to them. I couldn't justify buying more of their cds when I wouldn't listen to the ones I had, but then I saw Dixie for sale at the local record store, ended up buying it, and loved it. My so so like for the band grew into love.

Avail is almost a mix of punk, hardcore, and southern rock. Its blue collar music from blue collar men. It's what punk should be. Dixie is a great album to listen to while driving and it always reminds me of small town America. Maybe thats why I love them so much, I'm not a city kid and I love the small towns. Their version of Pink Houses is superior to John Melloncamp's original.

I usually end up singing along to lyrics like "I think I misunderstood the magic of this town" and "I try to gain the courage and smile for a while".

If you're thinking of getting into Avail, this is a great place to start. It's heavier and grudgier than their newest two albums. If you like this album, I suggest you buy Over The James next.

"Take heart, all of you who've mourned the absence of Avail from the Richmond scene these past several years. Freeman, a new band who've been around for the past year or so, reunites 3/5 of the classic Satiate/Dixie lineup of Avail, bringing them back together for the first time in fifteen years. Guitarist Joe Banks is still technically a member of Avail (since they are technically still together), but drummer Erik Larson left after 1998's Over The James, and Avail bassist Chuck McCauley, who is playing rhythm guitar in Freeman now, last played with Avail in 1994. Along with former Wheelbite vocalist Freeman Martin and former Mason Dixon Disaster bassist Chris Rigo, they make up Freeman . . . celebrating the release of their debut LP, 'It Doesn't Matter'. The album is currently available . . . and it's pretty excellent, bringing that same driving, melodic, somewhat emotional sound that Avail always had together with more overt hardcore influences and Freeman's voice, which is reminiscent both of Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan and of Dave Smalley during his Down By Law days. The album definitely continues in the tradition established by Avail's classic 90s albums, and Freeman should easily win a place in the heart of that band's longtime fans."

I'm a metal guy, but there are a few hardcore/punk bands that I really enjoy. Richmond's Avail is one of those bands. Avail combines melody with aggression, which sets them apart from the rest of the hardcore/punk scene. Avail is certainly loud and fast enough for most hardcore/punk fans, but they are also a band that fans of Social Distortion and Bad Religion can get into.

Dixie is the band's second album, and the first in the Jade Tree series of Avail reissues. It's probably my least favorite Avail album, which means I still like it more than just about every other hardcore/punk release. There are some great songs on Dixie (including the band's cover of the John Cougar Mellencamp staple "Pink Houses"), but it doesn't seem to have the focus that some of Avail's other albums have. It does show significant growth from the raw sound of Satiate, but I think Satiate had a better overall feel. Over the James is a great example. That album isn't simply a collection of songs; it's a mission statement. Still, Dixie is a very good album, and the 2006 reissue makes it even better.

As to this reissue - what's not to like? The album has been digitally remastered, so it sounds great. Plus, they've added 11 bonus tracks - nearly doubling the album length. In addition to 2 studio tracks from the Attempt to Regress 7" ("Connection" and "Mr. Morgan", which were originally on Satiate), the entire Live at the King's Head Inn 10" is included. The live tracks don't have the best sound quality, but it's still cool to see them collected here. All in all, the band gives you plenty of reasons to replace your old copy of Dixie. I just hope Satiate receives the same deluxe treatment someday.