Let's Kill Saturday Night

Amazon.com
On his impressive Geffen debut, Robbie Fulks effortlessly churns out solid country-tinged rockers, piercing ballads, toe-tapping honky-tonk, and irresistible pop songs, prompting comparisons to other multi-faceted singer-songwriters such as Freedy Johnston and the late Gram Parsons. From the standout guitar crunch of "Caroline" to the spooky, high-lonesome harmonies and plaintive fiddle of "Bethelridge" to the perfect tenor twang of "Can't Win for Losing You," Fulks proves himself a master of many genres. His passionate vocal delivery does much to redeem even his less-inspired lyrics. In going for the live vibe, Fulks and co-producer Rick Will sometimes verge on the sloppy--- "Little King," a thrashy rock number, sounds especially cacophonous. However, with stunners such as "Pretty Little Poison," a raggedly gorgeous duet with Lucinda Williams doing her throaty best to match Fulks's likable falsetto, the record can afford a few fillers. -- Carolyn Wennblom

No Depression
Let's Kill Saturday Night features Fulks' most consistent writing, and a few of his finest compositions yet. But it's the sound that immediately overwhelms. The title track could've been a country song ... but with electric guitars screaming around him, the song becomes a particularly desperate rock anthem of weekend escape.... Fulks creates pop-based rock 'n' roll that's nothing short of exhilarating.

Let's Kill Saturday Night

Tracks:

Let's Kill Saturday Night
Caroline
Pretty Little Poison
She Must Think I Like Poetry
Bethelridge
Take Me To The Paradise
Little King
You Shouldn't Have
God Isn't Real
Down In Her Arms
Can't Win For Losing You
Night Accident
Stone River

Amazon.com

On his impressive Geffen debut, Robbie Fulks effortlessly churns out solid country-tinged rockers, piercing ballads, toe-tapping honky-tonk, and irresistible pop songs, prompting comparisons to other multi-faceted singer-songwriters such as Freedy Johnston and the late Gram Parsons. From the standout guitar crunch of "Caroline" to the spooky, high-lonesome harmonies and plaintive fiddle of "Bethelridge" to the perfect tenor twang of "Can't Win for Losing You," Fulks proves himself a master of many genres. His passionate vocal delivery does much to redeem even his less-inspired lyrics. In going for the live vibe, Fulks and co-producer Rick Will sometimes verge on the sloppy--- "Little King," a thrashy rock number, sounds especially cacophonous. However, with stunners such as "Pretty Little Poison," a raggedly gorgeous duet with Lucinda Williams doing her throaty best to match Fulks's likable falsetto, the record can afford a few fillers. -- Carolyn Wennblom

Customer Reviews:

The Bridge of Country and Rock.......2006-04-27

Confession: I grew up on rock and roll, and I love it still, but much of it is boring and predictable. I often find a better "story" in the lyrics of folk and country music. Most reliably, I find the best musicality and lyrics in alt-country; you preserve a lot of the energy of rock, yet you get the nuance of acoustic instruments and lyrics that are both thoughtful and intelligible. Well, Robbie Fulks really fulfills on all of these levels. He's like Lucinda Williams (a natural partner) in that aspect; I hear a lot of Joe Ely in there too and a bit of Lyle Lovett. Fulks is more raw and more edgy than any of them, and it works most of the time.
Make no mistake -- this is a GREAT album. I listen to a lot of music, and Fulks is one of my finest discoveries in years; I wonder how he flew under my radar for so long. He should be a staple on college radio stations.

Country in the City.......2005-07-26

Robbie Fulks is one of Chicago's local heroes. In a town where alt-country doesn't exactly sell like hot cakes, Fulks has built a dedicated fan base by delivering a steady stream of quality tunes over the course of a decade. You can't rightly ask any more than that. "Let's Kill Saturday Night" is a great album in its own right, but its also a good place to jump in if you've never heard Fulks' music. Banjo twanglin' in some places, hard-core rockin' in others, its a CD worth adding to any collection.

Phenomenal.......2005-07-15

Let's Kill Saturday Night is an amazing album. Song after song after song are winners with me. I loved 13 Hillbilly Giants but this one is even better. A bit poppier but nonetheless a must own.

Great original songwriting.......2002-03-28

I bought this CD having only heard the title track, and I have no frame or reference of how this compares to other Fulks' CDs. But this one is great! It's a fantastic mix of styles from foot stompin' rockers to heart breaking ballads. I am a real fan of "story" songs, and "Night Accident" is one of the best I ever heard. I didn't catch it all on the first listen, but when I heard it again it sent a chill up my spine.

Robbie Fulks is my hero........2000-04-12

I bought this CD based on "Let's Kill Saturday Night", which is a great, rollicking rock and roll tune. The entire CD is gem after gem, from the torchy ("Pretty Little Poison") to the twangy ("I Can't Win for Losing You") to the hawnky-tawnk sublime ("You Shouldn't Have"). The production is gritty, the writing is honest and Fulks' voice drips with vinegar - yummy!

Average customer rating:

Amiable
NYC Country Music
Brilliant Insanity
A thinking persons music
Most unique country band out there

Let's Kill Saturday Night
5 Chinese Brothers
Manufacturer: 1-800 Prime CD
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000035L6
Release Date: 1997-04-22

Tracks:

Let's Kill Saturday Night
It's A Secret
Three Cool Guys
My Love For You Has Turned To Hate
Marionette
Look At It Rain
That's What I Would Do
Product Of Dysfunction
I'm Not Finished Yet
Midnight At The Liberty
Big Boots
Blue Boy
I Call My Pain By Your Name
I Can See
The Boy From New York City, The Girl From Tennessee

Customer Reviews:

Amiable.......2004-03-05

5 Chinese Brothers is one of my favorite names for a group ever. (They are not, of course, Chinese, nor are there five of them, but take their name from the children's book popular in the 50s and 60s -- and maybe still, I haven't checked.) And the music is not bad either, mostly ear-pleasing easy country rock. Pretty unique too because all band members have at least one songwriting credit on the disc, with the bulk of the writing done by lead singer Tom Meltzer and bassist Paul Foglino. Both are talented, don't take themselves too seriously, and have a nice dollop of humor. I don't recall ever hearing a hambone (track 6) before, but otherwise the instruments are bascically three guys on guitars, another on drums, with some keyboards also tossed in. Best cuts are the opening cover Robbie Fuchs title song, the tongue in cheek Three Cool Guys, Look at it Rain, Product of Dysfunction, and I Call My Pain By Your Name. Not immediately grabbing, but well worth a listen.

NYC Country Music.......2002-07-26

5 Chinese Brothers is one of several underground country rock bands laboring in the wilds of The BIg Apple these days. As such they are more country and less rocking that their far superior rivals, The Hangdogs. "Let's Kill Saturday Night" is an overlong collection of 15 songs that does contain a few strong moments. The best tune is the blue collar work anthem "Big Boots," while "Midnight at the Liberty," is a good folk rock-like story song. The title track is a worthwhile cover of a Robbie Fulks song that interestingly Fulks used as the title track for one of his own albums. Beyond that, most of the rest of the songs really fail to leave a lasting impression.

Overall, "Let's Kill Saturday Night" is a passable country rock album from a very unlikely place.

Brilliant Insanity.......2001-10-18

This CD grabs you instantly, shakes you around, soothes you like a lullaby and then rocks out. While hard to categorize, it's worth seeking for this CD. The title track rocks hard, "I got a Mustang loaded, I got a wrong to right, I got a little red bullet, let's kill Saturday night." Splitting electric guitar propels the lyric to "It's a Secret," "Someone's got to tell me about these sexual relations; Someone's making love & I'm just making conversation." "Three Cool Guys" has a cajun country flavor; and "Any Love for You has Turned to Hate" is a peppy country ditty. The Brothers smolder on the slower "Marionette" with a passionate vocal, "If you let me, I'll sleep on your floor." "Look At It Rain" is a country song Johnny Horton (Battle of New Orleans) would have loved. The next rack is the bouncy "That's What I Would Do," "If I could take back all the stupid things I said, if I could make you happy instead of trying to make you laugh." "Product of Dysfunction" is twangy tune you could square dance to in group therapy. A mean electric lead guitar rocks "I'm Not Finished Yet," "I never was the nicest guy you've ever met." An accordian lends a cajun air to "Midnight at the Liberty" about a kid smoking an illegal substance at a concert. "Big Boots" is a working man's rocker, a laborer's theme song. One of my favorites is the great pop tune "Blue Boy." The kids look at blue boy on tv & suspect that he's not real and say that's the way I want to be." The repeated chorus of "look at that train" shoots out machine gun style. "I Call My Pain by Your Name" is a pedal steel weeper. "I Can See" rocks on. The CD closes with the country ballad of mismatched love, "The boy from New York City, The Girl from Tennessee." Five Chinese Brothers are in top form with this CD. If you like Delbert McClinton or Fred Eaglesmith, this will be required listening. Enjoy!

A thinking persons music.......2000-08-14

Unreal lyrics. Obviously crafted by song writers who know the written word and can pull the best out of language. Every line is an experience. Only buy this cd if you have a love of first rate music and lyrics. A must have for the serious music lover. Musical execution is first class.

Most unique country band out there.......2000-08-14

You will be hard pressed to find a band as origional. Points of intrest are the hilarious "Product of disfunction" and "three cool guys"

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