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Avg: 4.0 (79 ratings)
- Date Released: February 20, 2007
- Genre: Country/Folk
- Style: Rockabilly, Garage Rock
- Label: Yep Roc Records / Redeye
As good as a southern swirl of fried chicken and banana pudding.
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We Say...
On the covers album Countrypolitan Favorites, Chapel Hill’s Southern Culture On The Skids displace some of their customary southern-fried shimmy in favor of a more traditional country flavor. Interpreting a surprising selection of artists, from T. Rex ("Life's a Gas") to the Byrds ("Have You Seen Her Face"), SCOTS bring their distinct charms to the proceedings while revealing the diverse roots embedded in their sound.
The opener, “Oh Lonesome Me,” replaces the melancholia of Don Gibson’s cowboy standard with a country swing that might make you feel even worse than the original if you don’t have a partner to twirl around as you listen. SCOTS then stray far from the American south to the south of England with the Kinks’ “Muswell Hillbilly.” More psychedelic garage than the band's typical fare, “Fight Fire” is a nugget from pre- CCR John Fogerty band the Golliwogs — and speaking of CCR, SCOTS' take on “Tobacco Road” is driven by a guitar riff that belongs down in Creedence's bayou swamps. The party tops off with the celebratory hoedown reworking of the Who's “Happy Jack.”
Sure, the more traditional rootsy tunes here (“Rose Garden”) are no-brainers for SCOTS to cover and they certainly do them justice. But within the nooks and crannies of the less-obvious choices, they manage to find that aspect of even the most unlikely song that begs to be re-born in the trailer park. In the process, SCOTS end up at musical destinations that are far from the starting point. At the same time, these re-workings reveal that the SCOTS sound is founded on something more varied and substantial than a southern swirl of fried chicken and banana pudding. -
They Say...
When a veteran band follows up a live album with a collection of covers, it's hard not to wonder if they're running short on ideas, but while Southern Culture on the Skids may not be generating much in the way of new material, 2007's Countrypolitan Favorites shows they're still playing (and singing) up a storm. Featuring 15 tunes associated with other artists, Countrypolitan Favorites belies its own title with the diverse variety of material on board; no one familiar with SCOTS's tongue-in-cheek hillbilly shtick will be surprised by the covers of "Oh Lonesome Me," "Wolverton Mountain" or "Tobacco Road," but the group also reveals some unexpected influences on this set. Rick Miller and Mary Huff offer some lovely languid harmonies on the T. Rex classic " "Life's a Gas," the band delivers the Kinks' "Muswell Hillbilly" with a potent blend of twang and soulful respect, and Miller's typically superb guitar work shines on a reverb-soaked interpretation of the Byrds' "Have You Seen Her Face." SCOTS's gift for navigating swampy grooves is also on display on their versions of "Te Ni Nee Ni Nu" and "Funnel of Love," and it's hard to believe it has taken them this long to get around to recording George Jones' paean to the joys of mate swapping, "Let's Invite Them Over." As always, Rick Miller is a firebrand guitarist with chops, taste and a sense of humor, and Mary Huff and Dave Hartman are a killer, no-nonsense rhythm section, while Miller's production injects just the right amount of pop-friendly intelligence when it's needed. A few new songs would have been a nice addition to Countrypolitan Favorites, but there's no arguing that Southern Culture on the Skids know how to pick a song that works for them, and this album is a hoot for anyone who has embraced their Dixie-fried aesthetic.
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| 01. |  |
Oh Lonesome Me |
3:10 |
|
| 02. | |
Muswell Hillbilly |
4:42 |
|
| 03. | |
Funnel Of Love |
2:37 |
|
| 04. | |
Wolverton Mountain |
2:49 |
|
| 05. | |
Rose Garden |
3:00 |
|
| 06. | |
Let's Invite Them Over |
2:28 |
|
| 07. | |
Life's A Gas |
2:50 |
|
| 08. | |
Te Ni Nee Ni Nu |
3:18 |
|
| 09. | |
Tombstone Shadow |
3:37 |
|
| 10. | |
Have You Seen Her Face |
2:21 |
|
| 11. | |
No Longer A Sweetheart Of Mine |
3:13 |
|
| 12. | |
Engine Engine #9 |
2:35 |
|
| 13. | |
Fight Fire |
2:10 |
|
| 14. | |
Tobacco Road |
3:48 |
|
| 15. | |
Happy Jack |
2:55 |
|
15 Total Tracks, 45:33 Total Length
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Credits
- Richard Putnam - Keyboards // Mary Huff - Bass // Mary Huff - Percussion // Mary Huff - Keyboards // Mary Huff - Vocals // Mary Huff - Moog Synthesizer // Mary Huff - Engineer // Dave A. Harris - Mastering // Dave Hartman - Percussion // Dave Hartman - Drums // Dave Hartman - Vocals (Background) // Art Chantry - Producer // Art Chantry - Artwork // Art Chantry - Design // Mark Williams - Engineer // Mark Williams - Mixing // Colleen Gray - Producer // Colleen Gray - Artwork // Colleen Gray - Design // Jack Miller - Laughs // Rick Miller - Banjo // Rick Miller - Guitar // Rick Miller - Percussion // Rick Miller - Vocals // Rick Miller - Producer // Rick Miller - Engineer // Rick Miller - Mixing // Amanda Stovall - Photography // David T. Viecelli - Management
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