Customer Reviews

Whatcha Gonna Do Honky

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

 

 

I bought this album after hearing "shakin and a bakin" on the radio. Slightly reminiscent of the Black Crows, it just kind of grew on me. While I do occaisionally pop in the cd for that track as well as "California" and "Scared Boy". All three of these tracks are available to sample so if you don't dig what you hear from these three, the album will probably just end up gathering dust.

For all the press on their juvinility, Honky Toast's debut album shows a mature and varied musical style. Their first album, "Whatcha Gonna Do Honky?" does contain crude and vapid lyrics, dealing with such "immature" and socially immature topics as masturbation and other classic punk rock themes like poverty. But, unlike comparable punk bands such as the ramones, HT layers on the irony with heavy funk grooves, mellow instrumental-heavy ballads. Without the lyrics, Honky Toast is just another talent in the enormous pool of new rock, but their unique and unabashing combination of sophmoric lyrics (or are they really subtly deep?) with skillfull musicianship makes this band truly something new. They have a similar sound to classic rock bands like AC/DC or early Van Halen, but unlike many copy-cat bands which just rehash old riffs and extend guitar soloes, HT is actually able to come out with original, and clean! sounds. HT is able to utilise complex rythmic patterns with precision and enthusiasm without going overboard with solos. The singing can be a bit mumbley, but it is more than made up by the amazing bass work of "E. Z. Bake."
If lyrics like "I don't mind my situation, I'm the self-made king of masturbation" don't insult you, Whatcha Gonna Do Honky?" is a great album to listen to when you want some good old rock and roll but you're sick of the same songs.

This band is not for everyone. Neither were the Ramones/Television/Dead Boys,etc.. However, this is the real deal, kiddies. Either you get the joke, or you don't. You'll either love it or hate it. These guys ruled the L.E.S. for a while. One of the greatest live bands that NYC has known.

Picked this up out of curiousity expecting
a NY punk/hip-hop Beastie Boys trip. Instead,
you get a well above average hard rock Stonesy
sound with sometimes goofy punk vocals and
lyrics. The big surprise here are the overt
Blue Cheer influences...the title track is a
virtual re-make of "Babylon" from Cheer's
epic OUTSIDEINSIDE lp, and another track is
based around the "Peace Of Mind"/"Codyne"
chord progression from NEW IMPROVED BLUE
CHEER. Some excellent country lead guitar
picking will also leave you puzzled but
intrigued. I used to see bands like this
playing clubs in 1975-1976 before punk rock
became a boring, British-influenced cliche.

This band is awesome. Best listened to while driving, especially "Rocks Off". It's refreshing to know rock 'n' roll is stll alive and well, at least with these guys.

Rock mixed with pop mixed with clever lyrics spells Honky Toast. After buying several cd's from CD now this cd was recomended to me. It has been my #1 cd ever since

This the best CD I've ever owned!If you like the samples, then you will love the CD.Every track is great!

This album is just plain stupid. I bought it and threw it out of my aparment window after listening to it. It's pitiful.