Insurgent Country, Vol. 1: For A Life Of Sin

Product Description:
Here's where if all began. Here's where the term was coined. Inspired by a dream, a vision, or perhaps a tequila-induced frenzy coupled with a healthy disdain for most contemporary music. Volume One is a generous helping of Chicago's own roots-rockin'est shit-kickin'est Insurgent Country artists. Tracks from Moonshine Willy, Jon Langford (in his first Bloodshot incarnation), Swollen Spleens, Freakwater, Wink O'Bannon, Robby Fulks (recorded by Steve Albini), two from the deans of Chicago country music The Sundowners (including the 1950's barn-burner "Rockin' Spot"--originally recorded for Chess Records and lovingly re-mastered here), The Texas Rubies, Bottle Rockets, The Handsome Family, The New Duncan Imperials, The Riptones, and more. Disturbing cover art by Jon Langford.

Tracks:

Way Out West - Moonshine Willy
Over The Cliff - Jon Langford's Hillbilly Lovechild
Tragic Woman - Swollen Spleens
Drunk Friend - Freakwater
Cry Baby - Wink O'Bannon
Cigarette State - Robby Fulks
Rockin' Spot - The Sundowners
That Truck - The Texas Rubies
Doghouse - Church Key
Every Kinda Everything - Bottle Rockets
Moving Furniture Around - The Handsome Family
If She Wasn't On Blocks - The New Duncan Imperials
Flannel Boogie - The Flannel Tubs
Suburbia - The Riptones
(Poi Dog Pondering In Drag) Sucker For A Trucker - Milly & The Sequins
Hole In The Ground - Iggy Yoakam & His Famous Pogo Ponies
You Don't Know What Lonesome Is - The Sundowners

Album Description

Here's where if all began. Here's where the term was coined. Inspired by a dream, a vision, or perhaps a tequila-induced frenzy coupled with a healthy disdain for most contemporary music. Volume One is a generous helping of Chicago's own roots-rockin'est shit-kickin'est Insurgent Country artists. Tracks from Moonshine Willy, Jon Langford (in his first Bloodshot incarnation), Swollen Spleens, Freakwater, Wink O'Bannon, Robby Fulks (recorded by Steve Albini), two from the deans of Chicago country music The Sundowners (including the 1950's barn-burner "Rockin' Spot"--originally recorded for Chess Records and lovingly re-mastered here), The Texas Rubies, Bottle Rockets, The Handsome Family, The New Duncan Imperials, The Riptones, and more. Disturbing cover art by Jon Langford.

Customer Reviews:

Rocking and Irreverent yet Classic and Fun.......2005-02-16

I am not a country fan, and yet I found that I liked this CD instantly. The music is fun and certainly breaks the limits of traditional country and the country flavored pop that is now called country. There are groups on this CD that I have never heard of, and perhaps that is all to the better because these groups are talented and unfettered. At first listen the music on this CD sounds like traditional bluegrass flavored country. However, you quickly realize that the words used in many of the lyrics are frequently the type of colorful words that are better suited to a bar or a hockey game than a casual family listen. Other than the occasional use of four letter words, my initial assessment was that this music sounds like country if The Grateful Dead were going to play country. Of course, such generalizations are easy but are typically inaccurate.

Songs with a faster boogie woogie rhythm include "Way Out West" by Moonshine Willy and "Cigarette State" by Robby Fulks. There are also songs with a stronger rock influence, such as "Over the Cliff" by Jon Langford's Hillbilly Lovechild and a rock `n' roll sounding "Rockin' Spot" by The Sundowners.

There are songs with a bluegrass sound, though sometimes the lyrics are bizarre, like "Tragic Woman" by the Swollen Spleens, "Drunk Friend" by Freakwater, and "Doghouse" by Church Key. Blues songs are in yet another category, like "Cry Baby" by Wink O'Bannon, "That Truck" by The Texas Rubies, and "You Don't Know What Lonesome Is" by The Sundowners.

There are quite a few songs that sound like classic country, for example "Every Kinda Everything" by the Bottle Rockets, "Moving Furniture Around," a very funny song by The Handsome Family, "If She Wasn't on Blocks," another funny song by The New Duncan Imperials, "Suburbia" by The Riptones, "Sucker for a Trucker" by Milly & the Sequins, which also has a rather risqué portion, and "Hole in the Ground" by Iggy Yoakum & His Famous Pogo Ponies. There is even a country flavored instrumental, "Flannel Boogie" by The Flannel Tubs.

It is difficult to categorize this music because it is so different from any country that I have previously heard. It is not traditional country because of the irreverent lyrics. Certainly it is not rock because of the country style and beat. There is a lot of humor in many of the songs. There are also a number of words unsuitable for many family members. Indeed, this music may be better suited for a rowdy bar than for your home. The style is frequently classic, and yet it is classic with strong lyrical influences from rock music.

The cover of the CD has a line that states, "A Compilation of Insurgent Chicago Country." I really do not know what that line means, but somehow it fits and I think it says it all.

THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD.......2001-11-07

Insurgent Country, Vol. 1: For A Life Of Sin. THE FIRST RECORD EVER RELEASED ON BLOODSHOT RECORDS. THE RECORD THAT STARTED THIS WHOLE ALTERNA-COUNTY THING. THE RECORD THAT WILL STAND AS A CLASSIC YEARS FROM NOW. I'VE HAD THIS MONSTER 4 YEARS NOW AND IT STILL GETS PLAYED ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK (AND I HAVE 4,000+ LPS AND CDS, BABY). AN ABSOLUTE CLASSIC ON EVERY LEVER, THE FLOW AND MIX IS FLAWLESS, PUT TOGETHER WITH LOVE AND IT SHOWS. SOUNDS GREAT ON A PORCH, IN A CAR, ON A DISCMAN, ANYWHERE. THIS CD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT RARE KIND OF DELERIUM THAT SETS IN WHEN A RECORD IS SO, SO VERY GOOD THAT YOU END UP SELLING LOADS OF JIVE RECORDS SO YOU CAN MAKE ROOM FOR ANYTHING ON THE LABEL. HAVING COLLECTED MOST EVERYTHING THAT BLOODSHOT HAS POOPED OUT I CAN TELL YOU. THERE IS NOT A BUM NOTE IN THE LABEL'S HISTORY! I PUT THIS THIRD ON MY FAVORITE BLOODSHOT RECORDS LIST, RIGHT BEHIND THE MOONSHINE WILLIE DEBUT AND THE GRIEVOUS ANGELS DEBUT. FLAWLESS MUSIC THAT WILL BOTH MOVE YOU AND ROCK YOU.

Music Album:

Music Album