http://www.rootsville.be/CD REVIEW TOTAL/CD REVIEWS 2009/MUD BLOOD BEER.html
Properly translated (for the most part):
The Bottle rockets don’t leave any doubt that they are once again spicing it up in the alternative country/roots/ rock scene with their new album “Lean Forward” (see CD reviews). This is perhaps right on time since with ‘newcomers’ Mud, Blood & beer from New York City, they have some fierce competition. The band carries on the spirit of alt. country pioneers Uncle Tupelo, the Jayhawks, Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, The Byrds, The Long Ryders, and Buffalo Springfield. And in my opinion you can safely add fellow New York City band The Hangdogs and REM. Jess Hoeffner / guitar, vocals – Stephen Swalsky, bass – Jason Fine, guitar, piano, vocals and Stephen Sperber, drums together make it a beautiful thing with Mud, Blood & Beer. The group’s name refers to a line from Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue”, and has with their self titled debut album an excellent bonus on hand to break through in Europe as well. It rocks and it twangs for a good 45 minutes and at no point does the band commit the sin of everlasting guitar solos and therefore spares us a whole bunch of noise, a phenomena that sometimes crops up with bands entering the roots/rock path.
“Lucy” and “Wynona” are of course literally and figuratively excellent album starters…sing-alongs such as “I Am Not the Road”, has a nice reverb and La la la la, “Fields & Factories” and “Marauders” reach the height of REM at the time of their “The One I Love”, “Losing My Religion” and “Shiny Happy People”. “Restless Soul” and “Shiny Black” show that Stephen Sperber is a class drummer. With ” 4: 00 A.M. Lights” there is, just as with the afore mentioned bands, an occasional well timed pause but Stephen Sperber obviously can’t control himself and quickly the question arises….Will the drum skins live and will the guitars stay within reason, screaming from all nooks and crannies just as on “My Undertow”? The answer is affirmative although “Hindrance” casts some doubt. Fortunately the gentlemen keep an overview on the situation and score with “Country Mile” already a classic that should be on the playlist of every band in the same scene.
Songs about drinkin’, hard livin’, fightin and lovemaking, two guitars, a bass and a drummer… it’s nothing new yet Mud, Blood & Beer grabs your attention.
Fantastic! CD Purchase-Obligatory.
