Search - White Hassle :: The Death of Song

Finally...

05/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Orange Records put up free MP3s from this album on their website almost a year ago. Finally, it's being released in the US. This album confuses me even more as to which band I like better, Railroad Jerk or White Hassle? Right now I'm leaning toward White Hassle. Some people probably will prefer the "recorded in some guy's apartment" homespun nature of the National Chain LP compared to The Death of Song, but I think this is their strongest work to date. The "Life is Still Sweet" EP was nice but this new record solves the problems that plagued the EP- most notably they have better integrated the turntable into the three tracks that have it. I'm hoping one day, they'll give that whole concept up, but still at least it works this time around. It's used in a more percussive way and sounds tight.
The songs as usual are rock solid. Marcellus Hall has that ability to find the "extraordinary within the ordinary" that old folks like Roger Miller or George Jones excelled at. Either that or he just makes "ordinary" sound entertaining. Not many people could write an engaging song about going into a health food store but he can. Of course it's not the first grocery store song he's written. Check out the Railroad Jerk catalog for more songs concerning "check-out girls".
The album was well worth the wait. Next to the Loretta Lynn record, it's the best country-tinged album for the year. Of course, "country" for Marcellus and the gang ain't Nashville country. It's that twangy chunky guitar with high lonesome vocals, fraternal harmonies, and a Dylan-esque harmonica rolling over a solid drum beat that last time I checked actually contained a kitchen sink in the drum set. Junk country blues for the masses."