Ultra Swank 22 Bands 28 Tracks - Cacaphone. In the liner notes to this rockin and rollin gem of a compilation, Jeff Smith, on of the label partners talks about growing up in a bit of a dysfunctional family, and seeing American Hot Wax for the first time - exposing him to Alan Freed, Chuck Berry and the gang. I was exhausted the first time I saw this flick, but by coincidence, that was pretty recently on late night tv. Despite my weary state, I couldnt turn the idiot box off. I figured there would be some rockabilly tunes on a disc with a cover this cool - rock and roll babes with antique microphone and laser gun, and I was right. It wasnt till the second pass that I recognized the Lustre Kings, a band a happened upon live one evening in Coxsackie Riverside Park along the Hudson. For the same reason that Chuck Berry will always hold up to fresh ears, the entire Cacophone line-up should too. Its alive, vital, and really does rock. Smith is right when he says some of the 28 tracks wont be for everyone. There are a half-dozen or less that I would pass on if programming the disc player appealed to me, but its really not necessary. Like a commercial, they afford you a trouble-free chance to fetch a drink. If any of the tracks honestly made me laugh out loud it was Rocky Velvets musically predictable Beer Belly Boogie which was lyrically brilliant - She did the beer belly boogie till all the beer was gone. Spittin and cussin and sleep on the bar. Have another drink and hop in the car. Cop pulled us over, I thought that was it. My baby whined Ocifer, my seatbelt wouldnt fit. Perhaps most incredible of all is that this epic length recording sells for just five bucks. |