Young Criminals' Starvation League

Amazon.com
An antidote to alt-country that can often sound as clichéd and predictable as mainstream country, this oddball gem of a solo project offers a surprise with practically every cut. Where his Bare Jr. band typically scorches its way through Southern-fried rock, frontman Bobby Bare Jr. here takes a quieter and stranger approach. The organic interplay of acoustic and electric instrumentation suggests a living-room recording, yet the stately and soulful horn charts of "I'll Be Around" and "The Ending" seem to be channeled from a different sonic sphere. Songs evoke such diverse influences as the Smiths (a countrified cover of "What Difference Does It Make") and the Who (whose "Pinball Wizard" riffing gets a Tex-Mex twist on "The Monk at the Disco"). Junior teams with Bobby Sr. on "Flat Chested Girl from Maynardville" and dips into the catalog of one of papa Bare's favorite songwriters, Shel Silverstein, for "Painting Her Fingernails." The album's centerpiece anthem, "Dig Down," addresses the challenge of trying to do something original in the wake of Jimi Hendrix, the Pixies, and Chuck Berry. "I do the best with the leftovers I've got," sings Bobby Jr., who plainly recognizes the distinction between homage and derivative mimicry. --Don McLeese

Product Description:
"Young Criminal's Starvation League" flirts with Beatles-like harmonies, a fascination with early 70's classic country, and some gen-u-ine Nashville soul, but also delivers a quick sucker punch to the past through literate, biting songwriting. What emerges is a smarter, softer, but somehow still menacing Bobby Bare Jr. The backing talents of folks like Paul Burch, Paul Niehaus, and a smooth horn section give it a vibe that gets under your skin and will have you howling at the moon.

Tracks:

Bionic Beginning
The Heart Bionic
Gun Show
Back To Blue
Sticky Chemical
Uh Wuh Oh
Demon Valley
Mayonaise Brain
Snuggling World Championships
Borrow Your Cape
Where Is My Mind
Stop Crying

Amazon.com

With two albums behind them, Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals Starvation League have evolved from an eccentric backing band into a collective with a mind and sound of their own. Though he's rarely meticulous in the studio, Bare now pushes (or perhaps is pushed by) the rotating cast to the brink of chaos. 11 people playing 11 songs in 11 hours (not counting a few overdubs) should be a numerological train wreck. Surprisingly, The Longest Meow is the best sounding album Bare Jr. has ever made, with vibraphone, electric piano, harmonica, and hand percussion flashing around the dynamo of electric guitars, thrashing drums, and blasting horns. When the band kicks into "The Heart Bionic" they may echo the old Bare Jr. stoner metal--only now they have a seditious force worthy of the MC5 or the Replacements. Bare's compulsive loathing sometimes seems like a shtick even he doesn't believe, but the band--including members of Clem Snide, My Morning Jacket, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, and longtime East Nashville pal Michael "Grimey" Grimes--does. They ride the riffs, expanding them into rumba-like grooves on "Sticky Chemical" (which Deanna Varagona's baritone sax turns into a lost Los Lobos track), psychedelic jammage on "Snuggling World Championships" and "Borrow Your Cape," plush country waltzes and shuffles on "Mayonnaise Brain" and "Back to Blue," and primitive garage rock on "Uh Wuh Oh" (exactly the kind of stupid fun singalong implied by the title). Bare has written better collections of songs, but his pinched wail puts the bite to visions of damnation like "Demon Valley"--an absurd inferno in which Sonny sings to Cher and "the Pope is coming over" to hang--and "Stop Crying," in which the singer's own soul cooks to a cinder. For Bare, hell remains more fun than heaven and self-torture has never sounded like such a party. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Great album!.......2007-01-09

I've been a fan of Bobby Bare Jr.'s dynamic sound and style, and this album is no exception.

One of the last true rock stars.......2006-11-17

Originality, talent, and rock. Bobby Bare Jr. is one great rock star. The Longest Meow embodies Nashville's country-inspired edge. Recorded in one day, The Longest Meow has limited "produced" sound to give the listener a unique experience without a lack in quality. To the contrary it is doubtful many artists would be able to create such a diverse and powerful album in so little time. Talent is evident in every player on the record. Try something different that you will be really proud to tell your friends you discovered.

Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League

Average customer rating:

Let's Rock and Roll
Oh, come on... let's be honest...
What the hades?
So So
Sharp Alt Country from Bar Punk Master

Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League
Bobby Bare Jr.
Manufacturer: Bloodshot Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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From the End of Your Leash
OK - I'm Sorry...
The Longest Meow
Brainwasher
Boo-Tay

ASIN: B000069B0O
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

I'll Be Around
Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville
Mehan
Bullet Through My Teeth
The Monk At The Disco
Dig Down
What Difference Does It Make
The Ending
untitled
Stay In Texas
Painting Her Fingernails

Amazon.com

An antidote to alt-country that can often sound as clichéd and predictable as mainstream country, this oddball gem of a solo project offers a surprise with practically every cut. Where his Bare Jr. band typically scorches its way through Southern-fried rock, frontman Bobby Bare Jr. here takes a quieter and stranger approach. The organic interplay of acoustic and electric instrumentation suggests a living-room recording, yet the stately and soulful horn charts of "I'll Be Around" and "The Ending" seem to be channeled from a different sonic sphere. Songs evoke such diverse influences as the Smiths (a countrified cover of "What Difference Does It Make") and the Who (whose "Pinball Wizard" riffing gets a Tex-Mex twist on "The Monk at the Disco"). Junior teams with Bobby Sr. on "Flat Chested Girl from Maynardville" and dips into the catalog of one of papa Bare's favorite songwriters, Shel Silverstein, for "Painting Her Fingernails." The album's centerpiece anthem, "Dig Down," addresses the challenge of trying to do something original in the wake of Jimi Hendrix, the Pixies, and Chuck Berry. "I do the best with the leftovers I've got," sings Bobby Jr., who plainly recognizes the distinction between homage and derivative mimicry. --Don McLeese

Album Description

"Young Criminal's Starvation League" flirts with Beatles-like harmonies, a fascination with early 70's classic country, and some gen-u-ine Nashville soul, but also delivers a quick sucker punch to the past through literate, biting songwriting. What emerges is a smarter, softer, but somehow still menacing Bobby Bare Jr. The backing talents of folks like Paul Burch, Paul Niehaus, and a smooth horn section give it a vibe that gets under your skin and will have you howling at the moon.

Customer Reviews:

Let's Rock and Roll .......2006-03-24

It was another day, sitting in the cube, listening to Pandora on the PC. I was tuned into Johnny Cash radio, the usual mix, George and Tammy, a pinch of Merle, some Jerry Reed, a healthy dose of Bob & The Band and some Muddy Waters, to take a bit of the twang off.
Then up pops Young Criminals' Starvation League.
Sounds good.
To the Denver Public Library web site and despite the budget cuts they have Bobby Bare Jr YCSL in.
I check it out.
I am happy.
If it weren't for windowsme I'd have Bobby Jr. on the ipod.
Instead Bobby's playing on the mind pod.
Hey Bobby, if Rock and Roll dies it is not your fault!

Oh, come on... let's be honest..........2004-06-09

...He can't sing and his songs are kinda lame. Having a famous ne'er-do-well dad and a limitless capacity to try and shock the squares can really only go so far. I mean, if you really like this record, more power to you. But it really isn't very well made or all that engaging. Yes, he might not "sound like everybody else," but that doesn't necessarily make him a good alternative to what's out there.

What the hades?.......2003-10-14

> This booger takes some getting used to. It took me a few listenings to get a take on it. This is not the homonigized crap that is prevelant in music today. "I'll Be Around" is a classic tune that will stay in your head, in a good way.

So So.......2003-07-08

This is one of the strangest CDs I've purchased in quite a while. Thirty seconds into the first track (I'll Be Around) I was saying "this sounds a lot like something Lambchop would do." Then a look at the credits revealed Paul Burch, Paul Neihaus, Tony Crow and Mark Nevers--all of whom are current or past members of Lambchop--were involved.

The Lambchop comparison pretty much ends with that song. What follows are some darn catchy songs and some a couple of annoying ones as well. Flat Chested Girl is a lot of fun, Bullet is a good song and I like the Smiths cover of What Difference Does It Make. Stay in Texas is another memorable number. The Monk At The Disco (this really sounds like something Morrisey would write) is pretty good, although a little on the trite side.

The centerpiece of the CD is obviously Dig Down and it just doesn't work for me, despite some ear-catching lyrics. It's packaged as a protest song with single guitar in the background. It's too minimal, didactic and heavy handed, especially compared to the relatively light-hearted fare that surround it. It just sounds out of place. Mehan, another song with bare(?)-bones accompaniment, doesn't connect with me either.

This is the first I've heard Bare Jr. so my review is not influenced by his (from what I've read) much different sounding recordings with his full band.

On the negative side, whose great idea was it to print the lyrics on the actual CD itself? Pretty lame.

Sharp Alt Country from Bar Punk Master.......2003-02-22

If you are familiar with "traditional" Bare Jr then you already know that none of their amplifiers go lower than 9 and can guarentee that your ear drums will be bleeding by the time you walk out of the concert hall. However, in place of the guitar crunch and distorted vocals, Bare Jr. puts low-fi recording gear and an acoustic guitar in his presence. His skill as a songwriter & lyricist really shine through in every track on this record. It's a great mellow CD for just about any occasion, as it winds its way through catchy "altcountry-pop", folk-like improvisations, and the occasional pedal steel and "y'all". His band is super tight and never plays anything that overshadows the core of the song itself. Highlights on the album (well...all of it), are "Bullet Through My Teeth" in which Bobby Bare Sr himself sings back up vocals, "Stay In Texas" which features some nifty pedal steel work reminiscent of the streets of Austin, and "Painting Her Fingernails", which tells a bitter tale of a lonely heart. I highly highly recommend picking this album if you are into just putting on some great music in the background, if you are driving anywhere, or just want to relax in general. This album is a top 5 in my collection!

Average customer rating:

Brilliant
Good as an intro or to add to a collection
Matured and amazing

From the End of Your Leash
Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals' Starvation League
Manufacturer: Bloodshot Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League
The Longest Meow
Boo-Tay
OK - I'm Sorry...
Brainwasher

ASIN: B00023B1VM
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

Strange Bird
Valentine
The Terrible Sunrise
Visit Me In Music City
Your Favorite Hat
Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)
Let's Rock And Roll
Borrow Your Girl
Things I Didn't Say
Your Adorable Beast
Beguiled, Bashful, Burnt
Bonus Track 1

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2006-06-11

It's got it all - hooks, pop sensablities, rock bombast and Nashville rooted twang. All mixed together in a tasty stew and served with a side of wit.

Good as an intro or to add to a collection.......2005-02-04

I'm just a big Bloodshot Records fan, so I actually purchased this album after exposure to only one or two Bare Jr. tracks, and I'm glad I did. It's one of the best albums I own. It's not twang enough to frighten off the closed-minded, and it still rocks powerful enough to attract the people who fall for the radio. It's a hell of a great album...and be sure to check Bloodshot Records.com, since old Bare Jr. goes on sale every now and then.

Matured and amazing.......2004-06-27

I've been a life long fan of Bobby and all his various projects. But this album takes the cake. Simply amazing. He has the care-free writing style reminiscent of Shell Silverstein mixed with his own insight and wit into the world of lost love and heart-break. It is a record that is true to the heart and just plain honest. Highlights include "Can I borrow your Girlfriend," "Valentine" and "Let's Rock and Roll"; a delightfully unique take on life on the road. Bobby's voice cracks with a diligence that caries the heavy lyrical content with a passion other songwriters could only dream of achieving. With delicate harmonies and sweeping pedal steel riffs, "Songs from The End of Your Leash" represents Bobby's greatest achievement. The production qualities are absolutely astounding (as usual). It's a must have record for the year for anyone who enjoys REAL music with soul and passion. Just fantastic, I really can't say enough about it. It is truly a bitter-sweet symphony that gives me chills every time I listen to it. Without a doubt, though, "The Terrible Sunrise" is a track that resonates in your heart with the weight of a two-ton block of cement, and, thus, is my favorite song. Ryan Adams, Jay Farrar, and every wanna-be Nashville songwriter couldn't ever come close to nailing a record as complete, focused, and genius as this one.

Average customer rating:

Short, Sweet, and To the Point
A total relevation to me, via Laura Cantrell on WFMU
YES! Another Bobby Bare Jr. CD!

OK - I'm Sorry...
Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League
Manufacturer: Bloodshot Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals' Starvation League
From the End of Your Leash
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ASIN: B0000D8L4D
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing
Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville
I'll Be Around
Pinky
Valentine
Mother Ucker
True Story
I'll Be Around

Customer Reviews:

Short, Sweet, and To the Point.......2004-02-03

Bobby Bare, Jr, has been hyped as one of the most honest, straightforward artists in alternative country. However, one has to wonder at the heightened irony of starting such a dark EP as this one with a bouncy cover of the old Coca-Cola jingle "I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing." And we won't even mention the inclusion of "True Story," a story song by Shel Silverstein, who warped the childhood of all of Generation X without our parents even noticing. Go figure.

But apart from that, this EP is pretty sharp. It's filler material, so it lacks the cohesiveness of a proper album, but individual songs like "Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville" and my personal favorite, "Valentine," allow this CD to stand up to multiple listenings. Even novelty material like "Mother Ucker" and a discarded track from Bare's previous album, "Pinky," are worth listening to, as are two versions of "I'll Be Around."

You'll also find some CD-ROM files on this disk. They are video of live performances of the songs "Valentine" and "I'll Be Around," the same live recordings that appear on the EP. They're nothing special, just straight-ahead video recordings of the performances that made their way onto the album. However, this EP is nothing special, just straight-ahead music, that that IS something special these days, so the video is special too.

This CD is a good entry point not only into Bobby Bare, Jr, but also into the mindset that underlies alternative country today. It's short enough to play and make a decision if this is something you want to pursue further. I hope you'll like it enough to want to listen to it more than once.

A total relevation to me, via Laura Cantrell on WFMU.......2004-01-11

I was handed this CD by Bobby Bare Jr. himself when he appeared on Laura Cantrell's Radio Thrift Shop show at the Museum Of Television & Radio in NY. Now I wish I had asked him to sign it. I think this guy's gonna to be a major star,. Not major David Bowie major but major Elvis Costello major. His songs seem instantly familiar yet they occupy a pop music space we haven't yet entered. Bobby's voice is a major part of that space. To my ear, it hovers somewhere between the aforementioned Costello, Bruce Springsteen's and Bob Dylan's. It's a voice perfect for pop songs and Bobby knows how to use it beautifully to get the hurt across in gems about flat-chested girls, panties and love gone wrong. Mark my words, "I'll Be Around" is a hit. You just don't know it yet. Get this CD and everything else in the Bare Jr. catalog.

YES! Another Bobby Bare Jr. CD!.......2003-11-10

If you haven't already picked up "Young Criminals Starvation League," do so immediately. It's not only one of the best records of the past year, but one of my favorite of all time. Then buy this cd. Whatever your taste in music, Bobby Bare Jr. can satisfy it. If you like a little alt-country, rock n roll, heart-wrenching lyrics and vocals, or just well-crafted pop music with an edge, check it out. The "OK- I'm Sorry" ep picks up where Bobby Bare Jr.'s debut left off, proving that it wasn't just flash a brilliance and that he is an artist whose talent and intensity are going to make for a long and fruitful career in music. Most of the tracks on the ep are live. Although this can be a mistake for artists who don't perform well, Bobby Bare Jr. sounds even better live than on record and these songs really evoke the raw emotion and power of his live performances. The cd includes two videos that can be played on your computer, which is always fun. Buy it now!

Average customer rating:

Nick Nacks & Paddy Whacks
Bobby Bare Jr , and Young Criminals Starvation League
Manufacturer: Junket Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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The Longest Meow

ASIN: B000ICRK0S

Product Description

12 tracks recorded live in Chicago, Seattle, and Amsterdam! Previously only available directly from Bobby Bare Jr hisself. Now about that new CD of his, THE LONGEST MEOW, available 9/26/06. TRACKS: I'll Be Around, Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville, Let's Rock and Roll, Terrible Sunrise, Dig Down, What Different Does It Make, Music City, That Motherfucker, Mayonaise Brain, Borrow Your Girlfriend, Things I Didn't Say, Cum On Feel The Noize.

Music Album:

Music Album