Customer Reviews

It Means Escape

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4 star:		(2)
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If you already know Cowboy Mouth then I'll say that this album is "core" Cowboy Mouth. If you don't know Cowboy Mouth then go to CowboyMouth.com and find out where you can go see a show! Cowboy Mouth is an EXCELLENT live band and 'It Means Escape' is their best non-live collection of true-to-type Cowboy Mouth tunes. Cowboy Mouth can best be described as "hard-folk-rock" with a bit of Cajun and Irish influence. Beyond that it's too hard to describe (I've been trying to for 10 years).

If you're new to CM then you should check out their newest disc, 'Easy'. It's a great collection of songs and is more radio-friendly then the other CM albums. 'Escape', however, is a little more "raw" and better encapsulates the feel and sound of a CM concert.

The first track, "Why Ya Wanna Do Me?", is a quick, fun, pounding romp to get you set up for the uplifting driving-rocker "Man On The Run" (one of my favorite CM tunes). A wee bit of Irish flavor pops up in "Looked Like A Woman" (performed in the style of a funny tale sung with exchanged chorus lines); later you get more overt Irish treatment with the traditional-sounding songs "Hitchhiker" and "Irish Boy" (all written by rhythm guitarist Paul Sanchez).

The best version of the ever-present CM track "How Do You Tell Someone?" appears on 'Escape'. This song is the most infectious-sounding Cowboy Mouth creation and appears remade on more CM albums than any other song. Track four, "Here I Sit In Prison", is a rockin' country-song-flavored sing-along favorite that is rarely left out of a CM concert playlist. "My Little Blue One", "Jenny Marie", and "Angel With A Broken Wing" are enjoyable tracks that help flesh out the "core" of Cowboy Mouth's signature sound.

This album is great but is ten times more enjoyable after you've seen Cowboy Mouth perform live. I highly recommend the combination of album/live performance. Barring that, pick up a copy of 'It Means Escape' AND a copy of 'Easy' to get a feel of what this band is about.

Cowboy Mouth is a band that you really have to see live to truly appreciate. That being said, if you're going to listen to one of their CD's first, this is a good one to start with. "Escape" is the CD where they really show off their influences, from 80's inspired tracks like "Jenny Marie" to the perfect pop rock of "Why You Wanna Do Me?" and the folky heartbreak of "My Little Blue One", this is an album that's got something for everyone. Also, "Irish Boy" is one of the better songs ever written. The three "lead singers" also get to shine on this album, with everyone getting a few tracks to show off his chops. Subsequent Mouth CD's have featured many of the tracks heard on this disc, but its great to hear them in their more primitive form before the band had access to major label production values.

Cowboy Mouth is a bands band, everyone gets a chance to write a song or sing a song or whatever, perhaps this is the secret to their greatness, of course, that being said, wild man Fred LaBlanc is also the frontman extraordinaire, he is maniac, he is a profit, he is rock and roll personified. This excellent album is a must have for fans of the band, their indie rawness has rarely sounded finer. Fans of Steve Earle, Warren Zevon and Richard Thompson who do not know the Mouth should take note. Every album by the band is a blessing; every show an extravaganza, Cowboy Mouth is not so much a band as a way of life. There raucous music is the purest rock and roll, the kind that reaches your soul and makes you move. Standouts include `Irish Boy' `Here I Sit In Prison (Yipee I Yay)' and `Why Ya Wanna Do Me' but all the tracks are excellent. Buy one today.

As one of the best rock and roll bands around Cowboy Mouth's music is full of energy and great tunes. "Escape" is the first Mouth CD that I bought after seeing them open for "Bare Naked Ladies" in Detroit. The power of the music and the meaning of the lyrics will blow you away. If you have never heard Cowboy Mouth sit down and at least listen to the samples avalible on Amazon.com. Cowboy Mouth is the next big thing to hit the well known music scene. Every one see them live and experence the energy that they have live!

Cowboy Mouth did it again with It Means Escape. This album is typical Cowboy Mouth and even includes my two favorite songs, Here I Sit In Prison and Take Me Back To New Orleans. This whole album is full of songs that you can jam to and sing along. It is cool to hear Cowboy Mouth recordings from a studio because it is so different from their live act, which is awesome. If you like this CD or just enjoy Cowboy Mouth, I fully recommend All You Need Is Live. That album they released during Mardi Gras this year at the House of Blues and it is exactly like the show I saw that night.