Customer Reviews

King Straggler

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I have no idea how this album has not received more attention. John Hawkes, who plays Sol Star on HBO's Deadwood, is the lead-lead singer, joined by two other gentlemen who also sing. This album is full of fantastically witty lyrics, delivered (especially by Hawkes) with a disarming drawl.

Rebel is a perfect example. Gentle guitar picking accompanies Mr. Hawkes' languid drawling of lyrics like:

"Yeah, I'm a Rebel/I mean I'm trying to be/I used to be/It's hard to be a Rebel in a world where everybody is cool/In a world where everybody is on the edge/Where the subcultures have been sucked up/At least the fashions, the look/In a world where long-haired yuppies ride Harleys/Where preppies sport tattos/And even preteen kids from Bellaire have been there and done that."

Or Good Man, which is a plaintive cry for bettering oneself.

"If I could I would say these words/I am a good man"

"A good man, opens every door

A good man, don't make out with whores"

Someday I am going to say these words/I am a good man"

"Haunted by my truth/Suffocated truth

A Piece of me has to die/Before I find the strength to fly."

And it ends with the repeated refrain, "I am a good man."

Simply beautiful. And though provoking all the while. And I've been listening to it regularly since I saw the band live in a little live music venue in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas.

I love this record, these guys are so good, the lyrics are billiant & would highly recommend it to anyone who wants decent music in their collection! I only wish they would do a tour in Australia so I could see them.