Customer Reviews

Graveyard Shift

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

 

 

This is a prime example of hellbilly music. The band is great and tight, oh wait, that's not a band it's only one man Scott H. Birham himself. The music is rough and raw, and as the sticker on the album states, best when played very loud. Really, this album, along with his first album, are worth picking up no matter what kind of music you like. He's probably the only guy capable of challenging Hank Williams III for his position as the badest country boy you'll ever meet.

Seeing Biram live was my first experience with his music and I was nervous about the CD. But Graveyard Shift lives up to its/his name. He is truly a one man band that explodes with music in its most raw and pure form. The lyrics are fitting with talk of love, murder, and good times. They get me moving to do anything from dishes in the kitchen, gardening with my cats, or having a few beers with my friends. This CD is a must have for anyone who loves cow punk, country, or just good rock and roll. Try it with a shot of Jack and a beer today.

Lately, I have really been getting into the subgenre of music that many are calling "hellbilly" and still others have called "dark roots". I don't know what to call it really, but I know what I like and in my opinion Scott H. Biram is the best of the genre (whatever it is). He makes an awful lot of good sounds for a one man band and his voice is as genuine and timeless as Hank Williams Sr. He can make you smile and I suspect that if he wanted to he could bring a tear to your eye as well. A great listen and a rare talent.

One-man-band, Scott H. Biram travels to some dark places on "Graveyard Shift." Certainly, that statement is not a revelation, merely a confirmation. Mr. Biram performs all the music, employing electric and acoustic guitars, harmonica, and organ, plus various other instruments (oops, not so fast, a fellow named Ethan Shaw contributes some steel guitar on the track 18 Wheeler Fever).

The primal mix of rock (heavy stuff), blues, gospel, country and whatever else one wants to look for suggests Mr. Biram either vacations in Hell or gnaws brimstone for breakfast. There are no silver-linings here, just gut-checks and coal-black images that linger a bit too long. Though there is a certain flatness in spots (imagine how these songs might sound with a full band of conspirators helping out), hats off to Mr. Biram for conjuring up this eclectic batch of songs.

Let me preface this review by first saying that I am not a fan of the alt-country genre. Scott H. Biram is simply labled as alt-country because there is no country/blues/punk/metal/badassery genre to speak of. And yes, he is all those things and more.

Scott H. Biram is an amazing artist, and puts on a hell of a show. One man, sitting down, gets all the little hole in the wall venues he plays dangerously rowdy. This album, while a bit more down tempo then his previous effort (Dirty old one man band) continues his relentless musical assault on the United States.

Everything he offers is put to front on this album. The opener "Been Down Too Long" is like a tent revival with an open bar. I have not once been able to keep from giving him an "AAAAAAAAMEN!" when listening to this song.

Many other tracks such as "No way" and "Long Fingernail" really display his ability as a singer and songwriter and make no attempts at displaying his whole americana musical fusion thing. They are just good songs.

The title track, "Graveyard Shift", is so heavy that I want to lable it some sort of bizarre mutation of metal. It's hands down one of my favorite songs and is an ode to the working class.

Hell, the last track "Church Babies" is downright punk.

All the hyperbole in the world doesn't really justify this music. Well worth every penny spent. The only thing that keeps me from giving it five stars is that it may inspire someone to buy this album over his first. Both should be had, but in order.

I've been listening to some of his earlier stuff for some time now. We love to plug in his music when we fire up the 'ole jeep and hit the back forty! Graveyard Shift clearly makes an impression on me of the progression Scott is making in his music. This is the best yet and I agree this is Americana at it's purest degree. -dave

I'm writing this as a country/blues fan who "gets" punk but has no personal taste for it. Even taking into account the tracks that are unadulterated punk ("Church Babies", etc.), this is a good album. Biram does the full spectrum from punk to country to blues and is mesmerizing. If you haven't heard his early rendition of "Pastures of Plenty", go to his website and get that, too. Even Ramblin' Jack Elliott didn't channel Woody Guthrie like that. I wish Amazon would post sound clips, even though they wouldn't do him justice. There's a reason it's the First Church of the Ultimate Fanaticism.

A ranting Blues man. I started writing this with a negative memory of the music after revieiwing, again I remembered why I love the Scott..i.e. you wont hear this mix any where and it is quite compelling.

If you are looking for an edgy Blues sound this is it. Fresh and energetic.

I like Scott's mix of blues, rock, soul, hip hop, blue-grass, gospel, sounds, even splash of Heavy Metal growl. I love the experimentation, I cant tell if he is using distortion board or singing into a can. The lyrics are dark, he reverts to the same imagery here and there but who doesn't. Compared to pop- and pop-country he is an injection of adrenaline, a sledge hammer to the psyche.

I bought three of his album's, I love the fusion of sounds he brings. I would only warn that the imagery, I get, is dark and gritty. I love Mary Gauthier...and she has great lyrics. I would just challenge Scott to bring a silver lining ever once in a while even if he has to collaberate with a rose colored, pill poppin prozac blonde, optomist. But I guess that would not be blues.

On another topic, I would like to mix Roger Alan Wade with Biram. -

I appreciate Mr. Biram, He just needs to shine a light down the dark and grime laiden alley he is walking. Give the listener a little hope he is not going to take us over a cliff, cus, I have come too close to ramming my car up the off ramp listening to his rants.

Perhaps, I should try to shuffle his albums with some Abba, not take it straight up three at a time. It's like main streaming heroine. A bad trip.

- Of coarse he will tell you he is great so he does not lack the gump, just needs to age in a oak barrel try to temper the ranting.

- Well those who can "do" that's Scott, Those who cant criticize that's me.

Favorites for what its worth.

-Blood, Sweat and Murder
-Sinkin down
-Only Jesus
-Raisin' Hell Again..has a Heavy Metal vocal growl with a Blues guitar backing
-BBQ Commercial
-Lost Case of being found
-Still drunk, still crazy, still blue
-Go Down Ol' Hannah ..Amazing Gospel acopella chain gang sound
-Santa Fe ..love song