Search - Blue Mountain :: Dog Days

A better Dog Days

E. Payne | Jackson, MS USA | 12/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blue Mountain may be one of the best and least known of the alt-country / rock groups that emerged in the 1990s (e.g., "Uncle Tupelo"). And "Dog Days" would have to rank as their "Sgt Pepper's"--only "Dog Days" is a lot less mannered and a lot more danceable. So let's say it is their "Exile on Main Street." The focus is southern (the 3 band members hail from Mississippi / Louisiana) but the music's appeal is universal. Cary Hudson is a fine singer / songwriter and a hell of a guitar player. Listen for some Neil Young influence in his ringing fretwork. Drink a couple of beers and crank it up. If you don't get into it, check your pulse--you may be dead.



Okay, okay. Much of this could have been said about the first CD release. What does the remastered CD have to recommend? Sad to say, the original mix was pretty murky. The vocals sounded muffed. Very muffed. The new mastering is a great improvement: no strain to make out the lyrics on this one. Plus there is the usual assortment of bonus tracks, at least one of which ("My wicked, wicked ways"--which appeared on a later CD) is up to the caliber of the 14 songs on the first release.



Blue Mountain disbanded around 2000. But defying the F. Scott Fitzgerald dictum that there are no second acts in American life, the trio got together for a one-off festival which unexpectedly lead to two CDs: a re-recording of their favorite original songs ("Omnibus") and one of new material ("Midnight in MS"). Both are also highly recommended. The band is currently (2008) touring to promote these and see what develops. Don't miss this, your second chance to see a very fine band.



PS: My rating of this CD is in no way influenced by the fact that one of the songs ("Hippie Hotel") is about the destruction of a venerable Oxford MS rooming house in which I once lived."