The Very Best of Robbie Fulks

Robbie Fulks

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bloodshot Records
• ASIN: B000040O9X
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,249 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The title is, of course, a put-on, since the closest Robbie Fulks has come to a hit was the never-be-ready-for-prime-time "Fuck This Town," from his 1997 South Mouth album. This collection gathers 14 unreleased cuts--some old, some new--and the best songs here reaffirm Fulks's status as one of the most imaginative and provocative (not to mention politically incorrect) songwriters working within a twang-based aesthetic. "Jean Arthur" turns the guitar lick from the coda of "Layla" into a country tune. "That Bangle Girl" is a pure-pop collaboration with the Skeletons, while "Parallel Bars" is a good-humored honky-tonk duet with Kelly Willis. "Hamilton County Breakdown" showcases Fulks's bluegrass flat-picking skills, but best of all is "White Man's Bourbon," which gleefully picks up where "Ubangi Stomp" and "Brown Sugar" left off. --Rick Mitchell

Product Description

There’s some brand new stuff (recorded with Steve Albini), a demo or two, a couple of live cuts, some soundtrack weirdness, a couple of things left off his first two Bloodshot CDs, and a killer duet with Kelly Willis. All in all, it’s a Fulk-narian delight full of old school honky-tonk grooves, hum along roots/pop finger-snappers, bluegrass foot stomps, and some genuinely hi-larious novelties.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The perfect Robbie Fulks starter album, January 28, 2000

By	"johnnywashtub" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

I would be hard-pressed to disagree with the title. Although certainly not a "greatest hits" album, if that even has meaning with Fulks, this disc seems to feature songs that Robbie just plain enjoys. Although a bit uneven, as any album recorderd with various people over various times would be, the disc contains cuts that rank among his best ever. "That Bangle Girl" and "Jean Arthur" are infectious tunes that I can't hear enough, while "Parallel Bars" is a great old-style country duet with the can't-miss Kelly Willis. I wasn't very impressed with Robbie's previous disc (Let's Kill Saturday Night), but this fine offering from the folks at Bloodshot Records more than makes up for it. I would give it 4 and a half, if they let me split stars.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Old fan? Newcomer? You'll like this, July 3, 2000

By	April Stanley (Champaign, IL) - See all my reviews

For those of you that know of Robbie Fulks, this CD is a must have. In my opinion, it is his second best - after Southmouth. There's a variety of styles on here & plenty of talent. This particular CD showcases more of the goofy Robbie that is lurking behind the lyrics on the other albums. For those of you who have never heard of Robbie Fulks, his music is a fun mix of country and rock (at times hitting both extremes) and is full of intelligent lyrics. He doesn't cater to the "moron market,"(Bryan White fans) as he puts it, and the result is refreshing. As a side note, GO SEE HIM LIVE! He puts on a great show.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not really Robbie's very best, but still pretty darn good., June 28, 2000

By	Miles D. Moore (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

There are a few throwaway cuts here--inevitable when you have a compilation album of previously unreleased tracks--but there are still plenty of great, smart-alecky songs here, showing that Robbie is still crazy after all these years. No one else in popular music--with the possible exception of Nick Lowe--would dare to follow the Hitchcock-creepy "I Just Want to Meet the Man" with the tomfoolery of "The Wedding of the Bugs," or the nudge-nudge, wink-wink salaciousness of "White Man's Bourbon" with the innocent bounciness of "That Bangle Girl." And who else but Robbie Fulks would dare to begin a country album with a straight-on paean to a '30s movie star? (I fully agree, by the way, with Robbie's high opinion of Jean Arthur, and wish he'd follow up with songs in praise of Audrey Hepburn, Lee Remick, and Judy Holliday!) This isn't, perhaps, the best album with which to begin your acquaintanceship with Robbie Fulks--"Country Love Songs" and "South Mouth" are better starting points--but this one will definitely keep the fans satisfied.