Why is it that country music has such a stigma? Even people with very, very dubious tastes in music still turn their noses up at the mention of slide guitar and that unmistakable twang. Is it the unavoidable connection with those damn rednecks? Is it because, although Dolly Parton is brilliant, deep down we’re all just waiting for her to topple over backwards?
Well, whatever it is, aside from the very odd exception (and I’m talking Johnny Cash not Shania Twain here), country music is, on the whole, dull, cheesy and formulaic. And sadly, The Weight aren’t here to change your mind.
Are Men is ten tracks of unadulterated, unashamed, thigh-slapping, grass-chewing bluesy, country music. And if that wasn’t stereotypical enough, there’s even a track called ‘Hillbilly Highway’.
I could go into detail, but I’d just be telling you what you already know. Yes The Weight’s lyrics are about women who don’t cook his dinner or iron his shirts, yes the lead singer has that accent, yes there’s slide guitar, a delightful Hammond Organ, and one of those walking bass lines.
As country music goes, this is probably some of the better stuff. Granted, it’s fairly repetitive, but at least they sound genuinely sincere about what they’re singing, the instruments are played to a high standard, and The Weight are generally good at what they do.
It’s just a shame most of the world won’t want to listen to it.
25%
Links
The Weight [myspace]
Related posts
Other albums by this artist
Dolly Parton would topple over forwards, surely?
Yours,
Mr P. Dantic
P.S. That myspace link seems to go to another ‘The Weight’. For what it’s worth it should be http://www.myspace.com/theweightnyc. A brief listen and I’d agree that it’s definitely not too good is it. But I definitely disagree with: “As country music goes, this is probably some of the better stuff” and can’t let it pass. No, no , no. That’s how it gets the stigma.
yeah – andrew is right, comments like those made in the review are the exact reason country gets such a bad rep. especially in this country.
i checked out these guys (when i fixed the myspace link – thanks andrew) and i thought it sounded pretty good.
cat – im going to take it upon myself to make you a country mixtape. and you WILL like it. trust me. im going to make it my personal mission to change your mind about the genre :-)
I apologise – my mistake on the myspace link. However, I did hear this and it’s really not very good. It’s very stereotypical “country”, without any sense of adventure or development. So I’m going to back Catriona on this one!
Slide guitars are basically wack.
wack means bad right? i’m not down with the kids..
Yeah. Basically I think they´re the primary reason I prefer The Wave Pictures by so much to Hefner.