The Inevitable

Squirrel Nut Zippers

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 17, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana Mammoth
• ASIN: B000004AWY
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,158 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #38 in	Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz
  #45 in	Music > Jazz > Swing Jazz > Retro Swing

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Maybe the founding members of Squirrel Nut Zippers (Jim Mathus and Katharine Whalen) were predicting the giant sucking-sound that would follow grunge when they decided to toss away their rock bands, move from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to a small town nearby, and pick up banjos and trumpets in 1993. Whatever it was that motivated the pair--plus the other quartet of guys who became the Zippers--to shun the pervasive crunchy power-pop-punk sound of Chapel Hill, it's worked out well for them; since the 1995 release of the band's debut, The Inevitable, kids all over the country have been pogo-ing to swing music. While The Inevitable isn't charting super-fresh musical territory, the Zippers' vivacious take on the Big Band sound of the 1920s and '30s has the nutty appeal of a vintage dress worn with Doc Martens. --Megan O. Steintrager

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lord that's why they call me Wash Jones, October 21, 2000

By	Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Here it is, the debut full-length album from the modern masters of jazz and swing The Squirrel Nut Zippers! Every song is a masterpiece and I must have listened to this album straight through hundreds of times, it's that good.

"Lovers Lane" is a beautiful, upbeat love song

"Danny Diamond" takes on a more sinister tone, with haunting vocals by Katharine Whalen

"I've Found A New Baby" is a fun mix of jumping percussion and exciting lyrics

"Anything But Love" is another sugar coated confection brought to life by Katharine Whalen

"Good Enough For Grandad" just makes you wanna get up and dance

"Wished For You" shows Whalen's soulful side

"La Grippe" is great, macabre fun

"Lugubrious Whing Whang" is a devilish instrumental

"Club Limbo" is dark and bluesy

"Wash Jones" is my favorite song on the album, poetic and spooky

"You're Drivin' Me Crazy" shows Whalen's range, from Billie Holiday reflective to Betty Boop electric

"Plenty More" is almost a promise to fans of more magic to come as well as a satirical look at kinky sex practices

The Inevitable is an essential album for fans of jazz, talented musicians, and FUN! One of the best albums of the 1990's!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best... period., April 28, 2003

By	C. Berchild "berch" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I started listening to the Zippers (many a year ago) I fell in love with their style and grace -- and was even more impressed by their reimagining of a great old sound. "The Inevitable" is their first wide release, and it still stands as a their best recording to date. This was the wonder-years of the Zippers, before they caught fire with "Hot" and well before the exit of Tom Maxwell. This is their rawest, most un-produced best (and if you think that over-production makes music better... it never does for jazz acts).
This album goes from the ecstatic (Good Enough for Grandad) to the sultry (Danny Diamond) to the just plain amazing (Wash Jones - one of the best recent songs in the "le jazz hot" tradition). If you like what you hear on "Hot" or "Perennial Favorites," then "The Inevitable" will not let you down. Just sit down with a mint julep and prepare for a great album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars easily one of the best cds i've ever heard., October 5, 2003

By	K. tate (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

my first impression of the squirrel nut zippers, the Hot cd, was not an exciting one. i wasn't very into it, and ignored them for quite a while, until i finally heard some bits from this cd. i can't even begin to tell you how much i adore them now. katharine whalen has the most sensuous voice i've heard in years, and "wished for you" is such a gorgeous song that i can never just listen to it once. i always catch myself singing "good enough for granddad" and "you're driving me crazy". this cd is the best of both worlds- a few songs that really stand out, but overall, so well put together that you cannot skip a song. the lyrics are phenomenal, as are the musicians. if you're new to SNZ, i highly recommend you try this one first.