Full Western Dress

Amazon.com
The Derailers' third studio record and finest yet, Full Western Dress pursues the group's Buck Owens fascination, once again offering amazingly accurate imitations of the Buckaroos' 1960s-era "train sound." This time out they even duet with their hero on "Play Me the Waltz of the Angels." The Derailers do dress up the retro act occasionally, though it speaks volumes that they do it by including sounds that Buck himself incorporated in later years. Several cuts here have a Merseybeat-meets-Byrds jangle, for example; a cover of Marty Robbins's "Knee Deep in the Blues" just flat cooks. Other modifications include a Dave Alvin-produced sound as pretty as it is muscular and some long-overdue Buck-worthy hooks. What still holds the Derailers back, though, is the same-old, same-old: music that's sonically stunning but emotionally flat. The genuinely lonely-sounding "Me, Myself and I" provides one welcome exception to this rule, but mainly Full Western Dress is just one more beautiful Nudie suit with nothing up its sleeve. --David Cantwell

Tracks:

The Right Place
Long On Love
Whatever Made You Change Your Mind
The Lost And Found
Me, Myself, And I
Just To Spend The Night With You
(I'm Gonna) Love, Love, Love You
Someone Else's Problem
Play Me The Waltz Of The Angels
Then She Kissed Me
Longing
Hold On Fool Heart
Knee Deep In The Blues

Amazon.com

The Derailers' third studio record and finest yet, Full Western Dress pursues the group's Buck Owens fascination, once again offering amazingly accurate imitations of the Buckaroos' 1960s-era "train sound." This time out they even duet with their hero on "Play Me the Waltz of the Angels." The Derailers do dress up the retro act occasionally, though it speaks volumes that they do it by including sounds that Buck himself incorporated in later years. Several cuts here have a Merseybeat-meets-Byrds jangle, for example; a cover of Marty Robbins's "Knee Deep in the Blues" just flat cooks. Other modifications include a Dave Alvin-produced sound as pretty as it is muscular and some long-overdue Buck-worthy hooks. What still holds the Derailers back, though, is the same-old, same-old: music that's sonically stunning but emotionally flat. The genuinely lonely-sounding "Me, Myself and I" provides one welcome exception to this rule, but mainly Full Western Dress is just one more beautiful Nudie suit with nothing up its sleeve. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews:

Beginning of the End.......2007-04-27

Here's where it all began to unravel for the once-mighty Derailers. Jackpot and Reverb Deluxe are essential. Full Western Dress, while it has a few moments, is watered-down and bland in comparison. One look at the songwriting credits tell you the band is running out of steam, as they relied heavily on guest writers for most of the material. Their hearts just didn't seem in it, and this would only get more true on their next release.

Best played LOUD!!!.......2006-12-28

In the realm of country music, there are only a few albums that stand up and want you to play them loud as hell. This is one of those discs. When you play FULL WESTERN DRESS on a big system - something with some clean bottom end - and turn it up a little, you get the true rockabilly feel of this band. The bass, rhythm guitar and drums really drive these songs home to the listeners and the dancers among us - you can really MOVE to this stuff. That said, it's also excellent for a long drive in the rig. Just slam this baby in and expect to be smilin' when you get wherever you're goin' because this one rocks!

The guitars on this album are what I personally like the best about it. Some very tasty playing in evidence here.

I have two of their other discs and they're not in the same orbit as this effort. Dynamite disc anyway you look at it.

One of the Derailers' best.......2006-08-19

Along with "Here Come The Derailers," this is one of the band's best. This is real, hard-core honky tonk; it is not radio country drivel. "Play Me The Waltz Of The Angels" and, especially, "Me, Myself, And I" are two of the best heartbreaking weepers you'll ever hear. If you've got a heartache, those two songs will help you drown your sorrows.

Real Country Progression.......2006-03-23

This is the direction that gives me hope for american music. Not "pop" "country" / a.k.a. everything played on country radio. This is a refreshing toe tapping feel good CD that deserves to be in any MUSIC FANS library. Please, support quality, support this wonderful band.

On the CD itself, there is better production value than the first 2 releases. FWD takes the Derailers as a group to the next level, the feel more comfortable or at ease with one another and in so each song floats effortlessly to the next. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

watered down.......2003-08-07