Categories : Country + Western, Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 2.5 / 5 Reviewer: Andrew Mitchell |
Laughin’ and Cryin’ with Reverend Horton Heat is the kind of foot-stompin’, hootin’ and hollerin’ fare that depicts Texans as gun-wielding, pickup-driving, beer-drinking, gambling rednecks. For nearly 25 years, the three piece band led by vocalist/guitarist Jim ‘Reverend Horton’ Heath has gathered a loyal following churning out flippant comedic rants partnered with a unique brand of frenetic rockabilly. On Laughin’ and Cryin’ though, their first album in 5 years, there’s such a noticeable decline in energy, that their self described “country-fed punkabilly” feels more polka than punk.
The melodies are simple, the kind that can be assembled in a few moments with a handful of chords. That leaves a hefty burden on the lyrics to carry these songs. ‘Ain’t No Saguaro In Texas,’ an accordion driven geography lesson that defiantly preaches about “a certain cacti that grows in a whole different state” and ‘God Doesn’t Work In Vegas,’ a piano thumping Jerry Lee Lewis caliber romp about the senselessness of praying to god at the craps table both dispense a sizeable amount of comedic fun. And two country folk-affirming songs, ‘Death Metal Guys,’ a nice throwback to their earlier more irreverent output and ‘A Rural Point Of View,’ a snide poke at those “electric car driving,” “organic food eating” city folk, capture just that right amount of irony to make you ponder their point a little. But when the Reverend pines on ‘Beer Holder’ about the convenience of creating a beer holder out of the crevice of his chest or compares the dissolution of a relationship to the Hindenberg blimp on the leaden, ‘Aw, The Humanity,’ the listeners’ tolerance level is pushed a bit far.
Laughin’ and Cryin’ sorely lacks the manic, rebellious quality that made Reverend Horton Heat such an underground force on previous efforts. True, their songs have always demanded live interpretations for maximum impact but with Laughin’ and Cryin’ you’re also gonna have to throw in a pack of Luckys and a six-pack. Make it two.
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