Cover:
1 Incestuous Relationship out of
10
What the fuck?! It's a white outline of
a single-axle camper on a blue background. Alright, it took me months
to realize that this is the universal symbol for 'trailer park.' You know,
the sort of thing on a signpost at a rest area on the Interstate, identifying
where you can set up your mobile home for the night. Genius.
Booklet: 10
Shotgun Weddings out of 10
A simple 8 panel booklet, pretty basic layout, no lyrics, some thanks
and production notes, and 2 of the panels are dedicated to a big giant
picture of a soundboard. Gee, that fits in well. There are some Neil
Zlozower band photos (see Zloz's 20 Questions for pics of the photo
shoot), but they're on both sides of the traycard so don't really count
when rating the booklet. So why the hell does this booklet get a 10?
Along comes drummer Darrell Millar, who did 20 Questions awhile back
and is also a founding member of some band called the Killer Dwarfs.
Darrell "personally" thanks Metal Sludge, so he's single-handedly
saved the day for Laidlaw. For that fact, and that fact alone, the booklet
gets a perfect score.
Songs: 6
Genetically Deficient Offspring out of 10
Laidlaw's 2nd album sees a departure
of the band from Nikki Sixx's now defuct Americoma label. It also sees
the departure of vocalist Tommy Roberts and bassist Michael Norton,
now replaced by original Laidlaw singer Joey Pantera and ex-Tangier
bass player Gary Nutt. Not sure if the lineup change has anything to
do with it, but this CD's way more mellow than Laidlaw's first. Maybe
they should've called it "Laidback." The Pantera dude's got
a decent bluesy, southern-sounding voice, and looks a bit like Joe Walsh
back in the early 70's. But their old singer had raspier, ballsier pipes
and the songs were a little heavier, more electric rock tunes. The new
Laidlaw's only got 2 or 3 songs that could be classified as "rockers"
and everything else sounds like the band's on quaaludes. There is a
more noticable country influence on these tunes. There's a cover of
Head East's "Never Been Any Reason," which isn't too bad,
though if they're going to do a cover song I'd prefer to hear something
a little more rockin' like Copperhead's "Whiskey" or "Nicole"
by Point Blank. Also there's an ode to Ronnie Van Zant, called "Ode
to Ronnie." Laid back. But the rhythm section sounds good, and
that Buzzy James sure plays a mean slide guitar.
Comments: This
is shit-kicking music, through and through. Good music to listen to
while beating your dog or forcing someone to squeal like a pig.
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