Dolly Horrorshow

Amazon.com
Along with the Waco Brothers, the Blacks (a.k.a. the Black Family) are among the more compelling bands on the far irreverent left of alternative country. With bass bang, guitar scrape, and drum quake, these Chicagoans seem to pick up where X left off, though the Blacks' nightmares are more romantic than political. Their Bloodshot debut has its hazards: the gear-grinding punkabilly riffs seem dated, the yodeling comes off as a sneering joke, and Gina Black's satanic wails simply cause pain. But Danny Black's snake oil delivery--he sounds like a mean Marshall Crenshaw--is more convincing. And when harmonies spill from the seams, the band finds just the right dirty, chaotic nonchalance. Purists will be shocked by the black mass they make of Bill Monroe's "I'll Meet You in Church Sunday Morning," but the song rocks. Their punk aesthetic isn't always so inspired, but the insinuating, bass-bowed murder ballad "Dear Little Girl" and swinging acoustic "Tortured Holiday" come close. --Roy Francis Kasten

Product Description:
This is hardcore cowboy jazz, with ample flourishes of cabaret, Doors-like rock 'n' roll, ragtime, and primordial country blues. It manages to simultaneously spiral back to the beginnings of American roots music as well as rocket to a grimy, lurid future.

Tracks:

Dolly
Teresa Leaves Lonesome Town
New New Waltzing Blues
Dear Little Girl
Horrorshow
Tortured Holiday
Crazy
Moan
Take Me Now
Never Coming Back
I'll Meet You In Church Sunday Morning
He's Gone

Amazon.com

Along with the Waco Brothers, the Blacks (a.k.a. the Black Family) are among the more compelling bands on the far irreverent left of alternative country. With bass bang, guitar scrape, and drum quake, these Chicagoans seem to pick up where X left off, though the Blacks' nightmares are more romantic than political. Their Bloodshot debut has its hazards: the gear-grinding punkabilly riffs seem dated, the yodeling comes off as a sneering joke, and Gina Black's satanic wails simply cause pain. But Danny Black's snake oil delivery--he sounds like a mean Marshall Crenshaw--is more convincing. And when harmonies spill from the seams, the band finds just the right dirty, chaotic nonchalance. Purists will be shocked by the black mass they make of Bill Monroe's "I'll Meet You in Church Sunday Morning," but the song rocks. Their punk aesthetic isn't always so inspired, but the insinuating, bass-bowed murder ballad "Dear Little Girl" and swinging acoustic "Tortured Holiday" come close. --Roy Francis Kasten

Album Description

This is hardcore cowboy jazz, with ample flourishes of cabaret, Doors-like rock 'n' roll, ragtime, and primordial country blues. It manages to simultaneously spiral back to the beginnings of American roots music as well as rocket to a grimy, lurid future.

Customer Reviews:

Alt. Country?.......2001-07-12

To lable anything by The Blacks as alt. country is to narrow their scope quite drastically. Their appeal for me lies in there originality. They will eventually lie in the same ditch with Tom Waits and Nick Cave. The songs on Dolly Horrorshow have the uncanny ability to break your heart, make you seek whiskey soaked revenge for the lover that has done you wrong, and then (thanks to a nod to the great Bill Monroe on "I'll Meet You In Church Sunday Morning")to repent. But the repentence is never good enough. Like the stench of diesel fuel it hangs thick over your head. It will drown you. This album has loss and sorrow. It's steeped in a simple kind of madness. It's joy intoxicates. It sticks to you like kudzu and humidity. It lets you caress the heavens and scream with the demons. No one knows what to make of The Blacks. Where do we put them. Think Jim Thompson, Think Bukowski, Think the visions of Joan of Arc, think whatever you want but go pick up this album.

Insurgent country at its finest.......2001-01-13

New to the land of insurgent country, my first foray was The Blacks, and I would recommend the same introduction to any music lover -- a mix of country twang, off-kilter punk, and hearty "rawk", the Blacks are both sincere and sincerely talented. Extremely gritty and infectious, as if Whiskeytown and the Pixies got drunk and rocked out -- the Blacks are truly one of the best bands in their genre.

DOLLY HORRORSHOW- A Crucial Recording!.......2000-10-02

If Gram Parsons and Kurt Cobain were married and capable of having offspring, their son would be Danny Black; lead vocals and guitar for The Blacks. This is a crucial recording for those seeking a double shot of hillbilly with a punk rock chaser. Vocalist and bass slapper Gina Black sounds like a woman possessed by Satan at a Southern Baptist revival. Scary! Dolly Horrorshow is definitely a wild and torrid ride down a dark road.

One of the best this year.......1999-07-10

This CD is a great alt country album that truly rocks. Gritty and moody, it's has a unique quality all its own. The Blacks live are also an extreme pleasure. Don't miss them if they come to your town.

Fantastic Album.......1999-04-19

I saw these guys in a room with 5 people in Harrisonburg VA and was fascinated. An excellent enrgetic and unique album.

[If you like good music check out www.bloodshotrecords.com]

Music Album:

Music Album