Last summer the anarcho-boogie rulers of Chico, California, Mother Hips, shared the second stage of the HORDE tour with Wilco, and Hips singer Tim Bluhm even shared the mike at one show when Jeff Tweedy went into vapor lock on the lyrics to “Dead Flowers”. It now seems that perhaps other things were shared as well –like songwriting and dobro lessons. Mother Hips have come through with an outstanding collection of their own country, rock and bluegrass songs (though the patchouli posse probably won’t be disappointed either). Much like HORDE founders Blues Traveler, Mother Hips have split the live show from the studio responsibilities and learned that a song is what you base a jam around, not the other way around.
“Emergency Exit” and “Engagement Ring” are country fried ballads that come across as Scud Mountain Boys sans the melancholia. “Can’t Sleep at All” and “Transit Wind” are country rock that Jackson Browne would like (if he knew how to rock). “Single Spoon” and “Whisky On A Southbound” are stoner country for Commander Cody. Even the boogie numbers “So Much” and “Two River Blues” taking on a new coherence and intensity.
Two songs are particularly noteworthy. “Mother Hips”, which deals with the long-term pursuit of love, is a true gem. “Picture Of Him” starts with a Phish-style verse but quickly becomes a bricolage of the ’60s, jumping from bubble gum to CSN to the Beach Boys before resuming its course.
Considering the advances this outfit has made from even last year, I’m already looking towards the tour as this record stays and plays in the CD player for the foreseeable future.