Customer Reviews

Trailercana

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4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Kentucky bred McClain has made a career out of this trailer-park upbringing, blending clever humor and wry social observations with enticing country soul music. There's a hint of Rodney Crowell's wordiness in these sixteen tracks that combines nicely with a touch of Kinky Friedman's irreverence. McClain's satire can be both whimsical and poignant, which might suggest country antecedents like Sheb Wooley or Cledus T. Judd, but he's more of a humorous musician than a musical humorist, clever like Ben Vaughn and Barnaked ladies, with a fine voice filled with the sly good times of Charlie Robison and Jimmy Buffett.

The rocking opener "Living in Aluminum" states McClain's case for contentment without resorting to materialism, "I don't need a house of vinyl / I don't need a house of wood / There ain't no better way to test your mettle / Than in a semi-precious metal neighborhood." McClain expands on personal responsibility in "The Devil Gets More Credit Than He Deserves" (with guest Lindsey Buckingham providing electric guitar) and considers religious hypocrisy in the true-life folk-gospel "I Was Just Flipped Off by a Silver Haired Old Lady With a 'Honk If You Love Jesus' Sticker on the Bumper of Her Car."

McClain sings of escaping into the perfect world of a billboard, the dire consequences of PMS, and the torment of a post-breakup stay at KOA. His sedated "Prozac Made Me Stay" features a guest appearance from Tommy Smothers, and "Full Moon in Pine View Heights" recalls characters from his childhood, including a date who "had eyebrows plucked thinner than a razor's edge / She smelled like popcorn, Quaker State and Lemon Pledge." His ode to "Ron Howard's Brother" returns to the theme of finding satisfaction in one's circumstance, and plays it straight for the album's closer, an evocative poem of America and young love.

This is a surprisingly sophisticated independent release featuring sixteen originals, self-produced with original artwork and graphic design by the singer himself. McClain is an accomplished songwriter whose work should find favor with both country and pop audiences, reviving the storytelling Jim Croce brought to the top of the charts in the 1970s. His band is powerful and plays country-folk-soul with funky touches of horns, organ and electric slide guitar. Someone in the record industry ought to wake up and sign this guy! [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]

Where Antsy McClain comes from, a seven-course dinner means road kill and a six pack.

There are two traditional responses to that background: fight or flight.

Antsy found a third: humor. That is, cheerful acceptance of everything that a man who was ashamed of his roots would ordinarily deny. So it's no accident that this CD begins with a song called "Living in Aluminum", which starts something like this:

There's a lot to be said about contentment.
Some folks never get enough.
Let me ask you honey, which is better?
A mansion full of money,
or a trailer full of love?

There's a lot to be said about acceptance,
liking who you are and having peace of mind.
The secret's being happy with your lot in life, baby,
And I'm pretty happy here in lot number nine.

"Trailercana" is a tour of that hardscrabble Southern life and the people Antsy cherishes.

Like Mary Anne Myers, who "put the funk in DysFUNKtional" and is just the woman you want to be around when she forgets she's mentally unstable:

Some folks say what we're doing ain't right.
Some might say it's just exploitation.
But there's a party at her house tonight,
And she hasn't been taking her medication.
It's gonna be good.

Nobody's gorgeous in Ansty-world:

He had a face you can't remember
Even when he'd hang around.

And there's unexpected ugliness to boot --- as this song title attests:

I was just flipped off
by a silver haired old lady,
with a "Honk If You Love Jesus" sticker
on the bumper of her car.

But getting caught up in that? Why, it would be petty. The important thing is there's always good news: love. And in America, you can marry anyone who will have you:

I married up. My life is sweet as a daydream.
I married up. And now we're living in her Airstream.
I married up. I'm all about social status.
I married up. She even knows who her Dad is.

She could do better if her confidence'd let her,
But it led her down the road to me.
Seven years after, I'm still the benefactor
Of the woman's low self esteem.
I married up!

Okay, so he's funny. But are the Troubadours a real band? Is Ansty a singer/songwriter who's got more going for him than shtick?

Yes, and yes. And more: Antsy is a world unto himself. In his leisure suit and pomped hair, with those goofy songs and that country twang, he's an icon for hardcore fans --- they're called Flamingoheads, in honor of those pink birds you find outside the best trailers --- and irony-hungry slackers as well.

Which is not to say this CD should be filed under "comedy." Or played at parties when someone feels like a few laughs at the expense of the Red States. The fact is, Antsy's got a voice that's sweet as James Taylor. His songwriting puts you in mind of John Prine. And his band attracts such guests as Lindsay Buckingham and Bonnie Bramlett.

That said, fun is the reason to seek out this performer. And fun he delivers. Let him give you the tour...

His name: I was born Ronald Joseph McClain, and I am still known as "Ronnie Joe" by my Aunts, Uncles and cousins back home. I was known for having a lot of energy as a kid, and a junior high school football coach observed my over eager nature and aptly called me "Antsy" during a scrimmage game, and the nickname stayed with me, with most folks now just shortening it to the single syllable "Ants."

Childhood: Raised, with one sister, in a small Kentucky trailer park by an Avon-selling mother. More than once, we got anonymous help. Once we got an envelope with five $20 bills and this: "MaryLou, we love you." My mother cried, and kept that envelope all her life.

Marital status: Married, 5 children

Music: Bought a cheap guitar in the 1980s, started carrying it around when working as an interpreter for the Japanese auto industry.

Songwriting philosophy: Don't we already have enough songs that say, "When we're apart, it breaks my heart" or 'I need you more than the trees need the rain"?

Fame: I never wanted to be a 'household name," because I'm already a household name to six people who, I'm happy to say, include me in the center of their world. And that, I'm sure you'll agree, is the most rewarding part of life.

Response to hardship: Established the MaryLou McClain Memorial Fund to honor my mother's with anonymous gifts: groceries, utility bills, house payments. If you wish to join the Flamingoheads with Heart Network, write TheTroubs@unhitched.com

Hair preparation: Half a can of Rave #5 (spray, not pump) does wonders to tame my hair and keep it in place.

Annual Cruise: PolyesterFest, with two kinds of accommodations: Aluminum (ocean view) and Doublewide (mini-suite plus balcony).

What sort of novelty act gets hundreds of people to cruise to Cozumel with him? Get the CD. You'll see.

This is a CD for adults that are tired of the product being pushed by the Starmaking Machinery. Antsy McClain's music blends the twangy roots rock of Chris Isaak with the wry, observational humor of Lyle Lovett and John Prine, and adds a dash of the good-natured party mind-set of Jimmy Buffett. This description may only begin to give you a clue as to the clever songwriting and sly, understated performance that await you on this CD. Like the best humorists, McClain understands that it's funnier when you don't laugh at your own jokes. Like the previous reviewer, this CD has been living in my player for the past few weeks. It's a gem that is too good for commercial radio - they wouldn't know where to program him. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy today!

This is some of the best new songwriting I have heard! It's hilarious and very clever. Great grooves to the music and good mix of fast, slow, funny and serious. It's living in my cd player.

As a former trailer inhabitant myself, I was quite curious to see how Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours' latest album, Trailercana, would move me. While I was not immediately turned off as Antsy and his band of rockabilly misfits cranked out twangy opener "Living in Aluminum" and other saloony sing-alongs, Trailercana isn't an album I'd listen to more than once.

Not to say Antsy and the Trailer Park Troubadours don't do what they do well. Fans should be more than pleased with the band's latest backyard barbeque effort. I'm just not a fan of the genre - kind of Dire Straits meets Jimmy Buffet in a back-country bar. However, I'm highly appreciative of musicians with an authentic sound and sense of humor, and in that regard, Trailercana will resonate, given the right audience.

With track titles like "KOA Refugee," "Ron Howard's Brother," and my personal favorite, "I Was Just Flipped Off by a Silver Haired Old Lady With a `Honk If You Love Jesus' Sticker on the Bumper of Her Car," Trailercana delivers melodic comical narratives with a genuine fondness for the trashiness of trailer park living - true Americana - with guitar slides and harmonies to boot.

And while I cringe at the thought of joining the Troubadours' cult of fanatics (dubbed `flamingo heads'), I'm still a sucker for a well-groomed man in wingtips and black-framed glasses. If you are one to indulge your curiosities, Trailercana might just be worth a listen.

This cd is worth buying for song titles alone: Living in Aluminum, Prozac Made Me Stay, Ron Howard's Brother, A Cubic Zirconium in the Rough and I Married Up, plus the clincher I Was Just Flipped Off by a Silver-Haired Old Lady.

The lyrics more than live up to the song titles, and in addition to their hilarity, Antsy McClain has a technically good voice down to a good growl or two. You can clearly understand every word he sings. Harmonizing vocals are just right...the guest artists are a pleasant surprise and the range of musical styles from folkabilly to reggae to Buffettesque country and pop make for an interesting and varied selection of songs. Falling in Love in America is one of the best pop songs I've ever heard. There are butt-kicking horn arrangments, and hey, Antsy certainly has his own unique look. Who knew Rave was such a great hair-care product?

Trailercana is a bold and clever concept cd--by, for and about real people, a light-hearted reminder that most of us are one or two generations removed from blue collar roots and that is nothing to be ashamed of.

It is laugh out loud fun, complete with lots of talented players. The words are understandable and often come to mind to create a private, funny moment that no one else understands.

I hope I can see a live performance soon.

We've heard Antsy and the Trailer Park Troubadours three times now, and we have several of their albums. It's always a treat to be in the audience with other Flamingoheads. You can take the whole family and EVERYONE will have a great time!

We love the Trailer Park Troubadours...this is one of the best of all of
their great albums. We have all of their CDs and plan to get the new Beige
Album as soon as it is available. These guys are excellent musicians, the
harmonies are awesome. We have seen them in person in Newman, CA about 6
years ago, and the venue was packed! Their music is creative, funny and
they are a very cool, (no bad language) wonderful group. We highly
recommend them to anyone who likes good music and fun and laughter. Their
lyrics remind us of Bob Dylan, however, these guys' lyrics are deep,
and current and poetic and light and lots of fun. Nashville country rock and roll. Buy any one of their CDs...these guys are great. We love them!!!

Antsy and the Troubs are talented performers, but the real appeal is the fun. The lyrics are a hoot and there's a lot of energy in the music. I was hooked when I heard the song "I Was Just Flipped off by a Silver Haired Old Lady With a 'Honk if You Love Jesus' Sticker on the Bumper of Her Car," and I'm also a big fan of "Prozac Made Me Stay."

The economy's bad, gas prices are high, and things aren't looking so good overseas. We need some fun and laughter right now, and this CD totally works for me.