Customer Reviews

Songs of Sahm

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well, its a Brand New Year, and just what I've been waiting for, A New Bottle Rockets Cd!!!! Sure, I knew they weren't going to release an album of all original material, that'll come later in the year. I knew they were going to release a tribute album to cosmic, psychedelic Texas cult hero Doug Sahm. Leave to a bunch of Missourians to pay tribute to a Texan! Doug Sahm, just like any Texas songwriter, wrote songs about living life in Texas. Songs about hats, the Lone Star flag, cowboys, beer, true Texan stuff. The Bottle Rockets write about all that too, except they hailfrom Festus, Mo. (so no Lone Star flag songs). Doug Sahm could easily be the 5th member of the Bottle Rockets through these songs as many of them ring true to the Bottle Rockets own material (even if some material dates back to the 60's). This is a joyous, free-spirited collection of songs, from an artist the band truly loves and admire and have been strongly influenced by.
Even thou some songs might get the awkward eye into why the band paid tribute to them. But the fact is, at least one band out there recognizes a true original American songwriter, Doug Sahm.

This is a great record. It's really fun to play while driving - over and over. Whether you lived during the late 60s, are a fan of the late 60s music or think you are, or wish you were, this album captures all of it, with some great modern guitar work added in. Doug Sahm was great at many things but above all he absolutely loved music (and baseball) and loved to entertain. "Songs of Sahm" does a great job of putting this all in perspective, and the song choices are terrific as well. Some have said that the album is imitative, but so what? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the Bottle Rockets flatter Doug wonderfully, with lots of energy and freshness. As for the Bottle Rockets fans who might not get it. I'm not surprised, but if they would put aside their preconceived notions and try to have some fun, they might gain an appreciation of one of the great blenders of rock, conjunto, and psychedelic music. In Doug's words, this record is "in the Groove." I especially liked "Floataway", "Sunny Sunday Mill Valley Groove Day", and the spoken introductions that were so typical of Doug on record and in concert. Doug Sahm was truly unique and a great talent. "Songs of Sahm" does Dougie proud.

i cannot believe a couple of the reviews i have read of this most outstanding record.not only is this classic bottle rockets this was the best disc of '02 by any artist.no other cd gave me as much pure pleasure as this one and i buy hundreds.so whoever is giving this one and two star reviews please go back to your dave mathews records and phish concerts.leave the real music to the rest of us.if you do not already own this disc BUY IT NOW!!!!

People knock this disc because it's not a Doug Sahm record? Dahh! It's not suppose to be. Or, they're upset cause' it's not original tunes? Again, it's not suppose to be. It's the Bottle Rockets paying tribute to one of their peers and they do a great job while they're at it. If you want to hear Doug, then buy Doug's stuff. If you want originals, buy their other stuff. If you want to have fun by listening to one of today's great roots rock groups doing some great 60's and 70's lost gems, pick this up. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

I don't usually write reviews, but I feel compelled to answer some of the unduly harsh criticism of this CD. No, it doesn't stack up to "24 Hours A Day" or "Brooklyn Side" -- few records do -- but it's a delightful little disc with several memorable songs that's far better than what most bands put out. It's apparent that Brian and the boys really put their hearts into it and had some fun in the process. Even the obviously dated cuts sound appealing.

I get depressed when I see the crappy reviews of the BR's homage to Doug. As one of Sir Doug's biggest fans (going back to my boyhood back in S.A., just around the corner from Doug & his family), I can honestly say that BR captured the spirit and grace of Doug Saldana! Great job, guys. If he were still with us, he'd be cheering these guys on...and jumping up on stage to jam!

This album will cause the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the crippled to stand up and dance!!! Great band, great tribute to Doug Sahm's great songs. Doug would be proud.

How come Bloodshot Records can put out music that's so much better than anything heard on "country" music? As for the Bottle Records and this album, I actually came about both the Bottle Rockets and Doug Sahm in a roundabout way (the album through Accuradio and Doug through the Texas Tornadoes). To say that this is what radio, and car stereos, should be about is an understatement to say the least.

Well done fellas!

I have all the previous releases of this band, and in general I can say that all the former cd's contain fantastic songs. This CD is missing even one song that I like. Very disappointing and I hope that they will go back to their old music style.

Absolute [junk]. The Bottle Rockets are one of my favorite bands, and I got the sinking feeling listening to this album that it's all over but the shouting. The lack of creativity and flatness of this CD is disappointing to say the least. I hope their next release is not anything close to this bad.