Customer Reviews

Smoke 'em If You Got 'em

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although all of The Reverend Horton Heat's albums are well worth the scratch, this, his first, is still the best. Much more than a novelty act, the Reverend (Jim Heath) and the boys churn up a raw, smoking, frothy gumbo of rockabilly and swing. The primitive sounding production only adds to songs like "Bad Reputation," "Psychobilly Freakout," and "Marijuana." Totally uncharactistic of anything ever released on Sub Pop, "Smoke "Em If You Got 'Em" finds the Reverend gunning his guitar like a broken down Harley, but managing to get back to the garage before everything falls apart. I saw them open for The Cramps at Detroit's State Theater and they damn near stole the show. Needless to say, every time they've been back since, they've headlined. Best experienced while drinking grain alcohol. Recommended.

Rockabilly is the purest form of rock and roll music there is. It didn't remain popular past the late'50's and early `60's, but it can hardly be considered a fad. It is the basis for which all forms of rock and roll emerged.
The Reverend Horton Heat is not just simply copying the rockabilly of the past, but he's giving it the freedom wasn't allowed in the 1950's. He puts the energy and rebellion right out in front, something the rockabilly artists of the past were forced to be much more subtle about.
"Smoke`Em If You Got`Em" is sleazy, trashy, fun listen from beginning to end. "Bullet" is an instrumental that effectively builds the anticipation to hear the Rev burst in with his potent voice and crazy lyrics. "I'm Mad" follows up perfectly as the hardest rocking song on the album.
From there on, it's one catchy song after another. "Bad Reputation" swings like no other song and is entirely too much fun. "Psychobilly Freakout" is the twisted cousin of "Surfin' Bird" and "Eat Steak" has to one the funniest, yet demented song ever recorded.
If it's untamed rock and roll you're after, this will satisfy. It's nothing to deep or self-important. It is was it is. Pure trashy, simple fun.

Ripping instrumentals! and a raw, not over produced sound really make this album rock.
Recorded "live" (no audience) direct to 2 track contributes to the vintage sound.
The Rev is incredible, plays lead and rythm at the same time, no overdubbing.

This album, the Rev's first, should be required listening for all who lust for great Rock 'n Roll. Never have I come across an artist that hits the target so consistently on center. Usually placed in the catagory of "rockabilly" or "psychobilly" (two if my favorite catagories, BTW) Mr. Heath is much much more than that. Mix up a cocktail of classic rock and roll, one part punk, a dash of rockabilly/1950s, a sprinkle of Johnny Cash and Ernest Tubb, a hint of Roger Miller's wit...then supercharge it. Absolutely blazing guitar work, complimented by the rock solid slap bass of Jimbo Wallace and drumming of wild man Taz Bentley. Makes the Stray Cats (who they are often compared to) look like pussies. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats the Rev live...see him soon at a venue near you. (Next buy Full Custom Gospel Sounds of...)

Behind the deceptively subdued exterior of the album cover, and the Reverend's Eddie Haskell grin that appears thereon, lies a world we all desperately yearn for. (Well, some of us, anyway.) It features fast women, fast cars, big, thick steaks, and rodeos with big dwarfs. Holy cow, what more could a guy ever want from life?

The Reverend rocks like a man who's been brought up properly in the Rockabilly tradition. He'll have you playing air guitar and before you know it, you're dancing around like a concert madman and then trying to explain to the wife that it was a pretend Stratocaster that she saw you holding and thrusting in front of your hips.

This is good old fashioned bang yer fingers on the dashboard, jam the accelerator, punkamunkahunkabilly rock and roll. I bet George Thorogood wishes he could play his riffs half as fast and with as much feeling.

Those who think this is his best record speak the truth. This is the most consistent of the records and still kicks butt to this day! I'd definitely recommend this as a first purchase - even over the compilation.

If you don't got it, get it. If you don't get it, you just don't get it. Classic psychobilly that can't be ignored. No lyric sheet needed for "Marijuana", "Bullet", or "D for Dangerous", just staightforward rockin' like it should be. The stand-up bass will slap you in the face.

This album, Rev's first full-length studio effort, is superb rockabilly. Known for his flamboyant style and fast guitar, the Rev took over ten years of road experience and laid down the tracks for this album. It is sensational. He combines rock and roll, country, and swing to deliver a prime example of what rockabilly should aspire to be.

I first was introduced to the Reverend and his particular form of sermonizing on a long-gone PC FPS called "Redneck Rampage". The game disc also included a soundtrack, which featured two of the Reverend's songs, "Wiggle Stick" amd "Nurture My Pig". I then was re-introduced to the Reverend on "Guitar Hero 2", which featured "Psychobilly Freakout", which was exactly that. I don't see how anyone could play a guitar that fast, but he did. And based on the strength of that one song, I bought this CD, and I'm glad I did. I like every single song on this CD, and that is exceptionally rare for me. All of the songs are good, there are only ones which I like better than others ("Big Dwarf Rodeo" and "Eat Steak" come to mind). If you're a fan of rockabilly or the Stray Cats, the other group that falls into this niche, then you owe it to yourself to get this CD.

The Reverend Horton Heat...aka...The Rev...aka...Jim Heath has been unleashed on the world with this debut disc, "Smoke 'em if You Got 'em." Released on Seattle indie label, Sub Pop, this cd features 12 blistering psychobilly tracks by guitar virtuoso, Jim Heath, & his right-hand man, Jimbo Wallace, on stand-up bass.

The Reverend is probably the most famous rockabilly artist ever or at least in modern times. And there's many reasons why. Not only can he play that guitar like it's his last day on the planet, but he also comes up with fantastic songs, bust-a-gut lyrics & beautiful melodies. Lyrical topics are pretty simple: booze, fast women & fast cars. And that's ok. 'Cause when Mr. Heath sings about his super-powered hot rod, gin & tonics and ex-wives, you believe. His sermons can certainly bring you to your knees.

On this record, he's got some classics. Such as "Big Dwarf Rodeo," "Marijuana" and "Love Whip." However, all of the tracks are top-notch. Even though Horton Heat is more of a singles act, he puts out excellent records. And it all started w/ this one!