Various Artists – Hempilation II: Freetheweed
In the liner notes to this disc, High Times editor Steve Bloom claims that much of the country-influenced music included here is thanks to a movement known as “No Depression” and that “seven of the songs will have you two-stepping around the room”. Whatever you say, Steve. The point is that a good number of the potheads time forgot actually do put the “high” back in high and lonesome.
Assembling an impressive array of talented artists sympathetic to the hemp cause, Freetheweed floats easily from hard rock to reggae to country and beyond. The highlights are indeed many, beginning with Vic Chesnutt’s personal ode to medical marijuana on “Weed (To The Rescue)”. Southern rock’s presiding power trio Gov’t Mule covers the old Humble Pie classic “30 Days In The Hole”, featuring a killer guitar duel between Warren Haynes and ex-Black Crowe Marc Ford. New Jersey band From Good Homes turns in a tight little acoustic version of Charlie Daniels’ “Long Haired Country Boy” with certifiably entertaining results.
While the Freddy Jones Band interpretation of “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” isn’t quite up to the Traffic original, Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise performs a surprisingly successful version of the old Fraternity Of Man/Little Feat gem “Don’t Bogart Me”. Even the duo of Brewer & Shipley get their old act together with The Rainmakers for a nostalgic reworking of their 1971 top-ten single “One Toke Over The Line”.
Also included rousing anthems by Mississippi mainstays Blue Mountain and New England folkie Dar Williams (with members of the Scud Mountain Boys backing her up). Outlaw Willie Nelson makes a grand appearance with a live (recorded in Amsterdam!) version of “Me And Paul”, and there are many other songs I would gladly mention except now I’ve got the munchies and feel like taking a nap.